1. About the Chinese Classical Pavilions
The Chinese classical-style pavilions are ideal places for people to rest, enjoy the scenery, write poetry and paintings or engage in conversation.
And pavilion is a very important type of building in traditional Chinese architecture. In ancient China, people were very fond of building pavilions. According to the Book of Han, in the Western Han Dynasty, there were 29,635 pavilions in the country. This figure can also reflect the density and importance of the pavilion.
Pavilion is usually a single-story building with an eave roof, sometimes with two or three layers of eaves. Its unique feature is that it has a roof without walls, allowing people to better enjoy the surrounding natural environment and scenery.
The shape and function of pavilions have evolved over hundreds of years to become a distinctive architectural form in Chinese classical architecture. Different pavilion methods and design styles were used in different historical periods and regions. For example, pavilions from the Tang Dynasty may be complex creations adorned with ornate decoration and carvings, while pavilions from the Song Dynasty were characterized by natural harmony and simple design (Chang, 2017) .
The location of pavilions is also very important. They are usually built in gardens, parks or scenic places, such as the West Lake, where people can admire the natural surroundings.
In this article, we will discuss the construction status of the pavilion by the West Lake, in order to facilitate the learning and reference of peers.
2. Introduction of the Pavilions beside West Lake
West Lake is one of the most famous lakes in China, known for its beautiful scenery, historical and cultural sites, and traditional architecture. Along the edge of West Lake, there are many ancient pavilions, each with its unique history and cultural background.
Pavilions in West Lake gardens serve a variety of purposes. Some are built for visitors to admire the surrounding scenery. Others are constructed for specific activities, such as tea ceremonies, music performances, or writing poems or calligraphy.
Pavilions in West Lake gardens are often surrounded by lakes, streams, or other water features. This allows visitors to enjoy the water and the reflections of the pavilion in the water. Some pavilions are built on islands in the middle of the lake, which creates a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
In the West Lake pavilions, visitors can appreciate the beautiful natural scenery, taste the local cuisine, and experience the cultural performances and traditional activities. Especially in the summer, there are many folk art performances and traditional activities in the pavilions.
The materials used to construct pavilions by West Lake, include wood, bamboo, stone, and reinforced concrete, while in recent years, glass, metal, organic materials, and other materials were also used to build pavilions, giving this ancient building type a modern and fashionable feeling (Fang et al., 2009) .
The pavilions have different plane forms, such as polygonal, circle, rectangle, and so on. And the pavilions have different roof forms, including double-tile roofs, single-tile roofs, hipped roofs, gabled roofs, four-ridged roofs, and two-ridged roofs, etc.
The design of the pavilion’s roof could showcase the talents of architects. There are various forms of pavilion roofs, with the hipped roof being the most common. This involves gradually narrowing the ridge and tile edge, until it forms a pointed tip at the center of the roof. Hipped roofs include several types, such as triangular, circular, or multi-angular.
In addition to hipped roofs, there are also gable roofs, mansard roofs, and other styles. Almost all forms of building roofs can be applied to the design of pavilion roofs.
3. Three Famous Pavilions beside West Lake
The pavilions beside West Lake are the most outstanding ones in China, with their unique history and cultural background. The most famous among them is the “Feng Bo Ting”, located in the west-north scenic area of the lake, dating back to the Song Dynasty. It is the site where the legendary general Yue Fei was killed. But the old “Feng Bo Ting” pavilion was burned down, and the new pavilion was built in 2003.
Additionally, there are the other famous classical-style pavilions, such as: “Qing Zhao Ting” and “Qing Xin Xie”, etc.
The “Feng Bo Ting” pavilion has a “Cuan Jian Ding” with multi-eave roof (Figure 1). “Cuan Jian Ding”, or the hipped roof, refers to a roof style with several sloping sides converging at a single point. This roof style embodies the Chinese cultural concept of the “four symbols” and is an important roof style in traditional Chinese architecture.
The multi-eave roof of “Feng Bo Ting” is a traditional style of Chinese architecture, characterized by two or more eaves set around the roof, creating a multi-layered effect. The multi-eave roof not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the building, but also provides protection from rain and sun. In traditional Chinese architecture, multi-eave roofs are commonly used in large buildings such as temples, palaces, and city gates.
The “Qing Zhao Ting” pavilion is a building with the “Xie Shan Ding”. It was built in 2002 (Figure 2).
“Xie Shan Ding”, or the gabled roofs, is a common roof style in traditional Chinese architecture, typically used in large halls, palaces, temples, and monasteries. It features both ends of the roof turned up to form a peak resembling a mountain. “Xie Shan Ding” serves both as a defense against wind and cold, as well as protection from rain and washing. It is an important component of traditional Chinese construction and is a popular architectural style in both ancient and modern Chinese buildings.
“Qing Xin Xie” pavilion has two slopes that present symmetrical angles on both sides, with a flat or slightly curved center (Figure 3). Its design is inspired by the “unity of heaven and man” concept in traditional Chinese culture, which believes that everything in the universe, nature, and human beings should be integrated and that architectural design should be harmonious with the surrounding environment (Chen & Wei, 2018) .
4. Conclusion
Most pavilions by West Lake are designed to look like small houses. They are usually built with wooden structures and decorated with intricate carvings. The roofs of the pavilions can have various designs, such as the “Cuan Jian Ding” roof or the “Xie Shan Ding” roof.
The design and architecture of these pavilions are all exquisitely done and primarily made of wood, with the unique traditional Chinese architecture style. Some pavilions are also decorated with exquisite carvings and calligraphy, reflecting the essence of Chinese traditional culture and aesthetic values.
This paper studies the general situation of pavilions beside the West Lake and records several famous classical pavilions. The purpose of these studies is to collect the real information of contemporary pavilion architecture.
In conclusion, the Chinese classical-style pavilions are an important part of West Lake gardens. They provide visitors with a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings, as well as participate in various cultural activities. The intricate designs and beautiful locations of the pavilions make them an essential part of Chinese garden culture.
Funding
Supported by the teaching reform project of Zhejiang University of Science and Technology. The project name is: Application of Coaching Mode in the Course of “Foundation of Architectural Design IV” (Item Number: 2020-J16).