Changes in the landscape pattern of the north bank of Xiyuan based on drawing archives (1669–1980)

Abstract

The gardens of Beijing's Xiyuan have received widespread attention since the 1930s during the period of the Society for the Study of Chinese Architecture. Based on five drawings from 1669, 1750, 1759, 1874 and 1936, combined with the latest laser scanning point cloud model, this paper compiles and compares the landscape relationship, architectural layout and dimensions of individual buildings of the group over time. While sorting out the changes of the north bank of the Xiyuan, analysed the different garden design concept and pointed out that the precious value about the Xiyuan case is that each new construction and reconstruction is based on a large scale urban pattern and a small scale architectural modulus relationship, with a very clear design concept. At the same time, through the comparison of drawing methods and expressions of different periods, and discuss the functions and meanings of drawings for the recording and presentation of landscape architecture in different technical contexts. At the level of Architecture Survey, promote the elaborate documentation of this important group of historical gardens and at the methodological level, by combining pictorial and historical documentary analysis increase the inter-evidence relationship between the three types of research materials: physical, textual and pictorial.