Network-Popular Architecture: its Production in Network Media and its Influence on Concrete World

In the past 10 years, the Internet has completely redefined the Chinese society at an unstoppable scale and rate. The term Network-popular architecture, born in the Internet era, has aroused increasing discussion in the Chinese architecture discourse. Defined by web impact rather than professional evaluation, the Network-popular architecture goes far beyond the pure architectural circle. However, this situation has not been fully realized in the profession. How these architectures are produced in Network media? What influence they have on the concrete world? First, this paper will give a brief overview of the Network-popular architecture and explore this phenomenon in the Chinese context. Then three cases will be introduced: MulanWeichang visitor center, Seaside library in Aranya, and a Housing renovation in Jingyang Hutong, which would focus on how it gains public attention in social media and what it offers in its specific field. By studying these three Network-popular architectures, this paper will draw a conclusion that some of the Network-popular architecture’s characteristics such as social issues project type, symbolic form and special space atmosphere are related to the design process which helps the production of this architecture in the media. It proposes that Network-popular architecture has the ability to activate concrete space, even drive the overall development of the area and arouse public attention of urban issues. Understanding the internal causes and production logic of it may help the architects utilize the media involvement, control the balance and keep discourse power in the changeable internet era.

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ISBN
978-1-944214-31-9