Study on the Historical Development and Architectural Features of Independent Yaodong Dwellings with Flat Brick Arch Technique Cheng Zhi
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Study on the Historical Development and Architectural Features of Independent Yaodong Dwellings with Flat Brick Arch Technique Cheng Zhi 1. Introduction historical development and architectural features of this 1.1. Research Target and Background unique dwelling type, hoping to fill up some blanks of Yaodong is one of the five famous traditional dwelling types this type and draw more concentration later. It will be of China. With the characteristics of the arch structure and beneficial to understand more about the development earth sheltered, this dwelling type is widely distributed in processes of independent yaodong dwellings and the flat the northern areas of Loess Plateau. While the flat brick brick arch technique. Thus helpful to understand more arch technique is a kind of arch form with a 1/5~1/10 rise- about contemporary society and to give more advice for the span ratio, which could be used for the construction of roofs construction and protection of masonry heritages in different or floor slabs. After the founding of the People's Republic kinds of fields. of China, a new form of independent yaodongs using the 1.4. Area Study flat brick arch technique appeared (hereinafter called flat Mizhi ancient town as a typical case of yaodong dwellings brick arch yaodong). Under the special background at that areas, two times of field researches have been given to it in time, this new yaodong type quickly spread and faded away October 2018 and January 2019. About over 100 courtyards during 1960s-1990s, which showed quite different stories were given simple visits. And 47 courtyards were given comparing to the traditional yaodong types. detailed investigations and mapping, among which 31 1.2. Literature Review courtyards are traditional independent yaodongs built before Yaodong matured in feudal society and became widely 1949, 9 countyards are cliffside yaodongs and 7 courtyards known since the 1980s. In China, Guo Binglu, discussed the are yaodongs built after 1949. classification and distribution of yaodongs in Loess Plateau 2. Historical Process of Flat Brick Arch Technique areas. In Japan, SHIRO AOKI classified different types of According to the historical literature studies, in this chapter cave dwellings in Loess Plateau, KATSUHIKO YASHIRO , the historical development of the flat brick arch technique mainly took sunken yaodongs as research objects and cleared after 1949 is divided into four different periods as shown in the spatial orders of courtyards. But most of them just paid Figure.1. attention to the sunken yaodong types. I- Preparatory Period On the other hand, research on the masonry structure First is the preparatory period. From 1949 to 1952, China technique in China during 1950s-1980s is also not was still in the economic recovery period. Also in the mainstream. A few literature about flat brick arch are founded architecture field, most people believe that the "nation form" in the Architectural Journal. For example, Sun Fangchui which comes from the Soviet is the correct direction for analyzed the technique and construction craft of flat brick architecture design. At that time a lot of modern buildings arch in his book named Flat Brick Arch Architecture. But all with unnecessary "nation form" such as huge traditional-like of these researches did not discuss its development process roofs appeared, which cost much waste of resources. and combinations. II- Development Period 1.3. Research Purpose and Significance Second is the development period, which theme is saving Because flat brick arch yaodong dwellings draw no materials and low-tech. From 1953, China started the first attention in the academic circle. This article studied the five-year plan. The government needed to concentrate 26-1 ni ee nne n ei Tniin ei ii e n IV 1949 1953 1958 1961 1964 1978 1980 1989 1992 1994 1998 ning he ee e e n ing e n ee Chin ie e n Cne eine ei ening e inie ing e ing hi n gie he e e hi n Cnin een inie ien ei inie i ei Fig.1 Historical Process of Flat Brick Arch Technique resources on industrial development. Also due to the IV- Degenerating Period criticism on "nation form" given by the new leader Fourth is the degenerating period. From 1978, China Khrushchev in Soviet. This time "Saving three materials started the reform and opening up. On the one hand, with (wood, concrete, steel)" became a tough policy on all levels. the productivity growth, low-tech buildings are no need On the other hand, this limited design and construction anymore. On the other hand, with the ends of many social condition inspired a lot of unique low-tech construction with mobilizations and reform of the economic system, the masonry structures at that time. Flat brick arch, along with collectivism system came to an end. This caused many other masonry techniques coming from the Soviet, were used changes such as the isintergration of the welfare-oriented in many factory constructions. public housing distribution system and finally caused the i i fading away of this flat brick arch technique. 3. Yaodong Unit with Flat Brick Arch Technique 3.1 Influence from Dazhai Dazhai is a village in Shanxi Province, where yaodongs are Fig.2 Flat Brick Arch Fig.3 Double Curvature Brick Vault (Xu Baichuan 1956) also the local traditional dwellings. New yaodongs built- III- High-tide Period in Dazhai were arranged like a train and were mostly built The third is the high-tide period, which theme is self-reliance by the villagers themselves during 1963-1966. The first and collectivism. From 1958, Chinese government started floor was yaodongs made of black bricks and the second the movements of "People's Commune" in rural areas to floor is brick houses with red tiles. The space between the call for collectivism and communism. Also because of houses and yaodongs is the public area and paths for the the international tensions, the "Third Front Construction" villagers. These unique yaodong buildings showed the spirit movement was started and caused the industrial migration of self-reliance and collectivism. This caused widely social to the west. At this time an economic construction mode mobilization effects and had drawn many study visits. In with the characteristics of low-tech, speedy, and collecctive the guide book on new village planning published after this construction came into being. This inspired a lot of technics movement, it was pointed out that one of the principles standing for the spirit of self-reliance (such as rammed earth of "new village" construction was "saving land and dwellings). Among them, because of the simple structure and advocating storied buildings". These points contributed to ease for collective construction, the flat brick arch technique the combination of flat brick arch technique with traditional quickly spread and was widely used for the non-productive yaodongs. Since mid 1960s, flat brick yaodongs gradually buildings in many areas in western China. ihen ihen Yng Yng Yng 1 3 5m Fig.4 Two-Storeys Flat Brick Arch Collectivism Dwelling Fig.5 Yaodongs in Dazhai 26-2 increased in yaodong dwelling areas. Sort e W hine ei i ie ein Tiin e 1 900mm ine 300*120*75mm e 3.2 Structure Analysis i h 2 480&600mm iCnee 240*115*53mm e ng Te i h Yng Te Because of the lower rise-span ratio, the flat-brick arch also has larger horizontal force. So the thrust girder and tensile girder system are usually used to make the structure stable. In terms of the construction process, the method of the first floor is similar to the traditional independent yaodong's. 970 940 2630 Then the walls on the first floor will be used as foundations 1500 1650 3500 to start the construction of the second floor. First, build the 1950 300 brick load-bearing walls with some pre-moded holes for 600 480 the cross arms. Then concreting thrust and tensile structure 6825 6660 above them. Finally waiting for 70% of the design strength 450 720 can start the construction of brick arches. Use cross arms to 3220 3220 3220 3220 3170 3170 3170 3170 3170 480 480 480 480 480 support the timber channels above them, and the formworks 1100 900 900 900 900 1100 i used for roof construction could move along the channels. h Ceing h i There are two types of roof constructions shown in figure 7. i ne i i h Fig.8 Yaodong Units Comparison Board ie ood e Flat brick arch yaodong dwellings were mostly used as ie Support stations for public institutions (Central County Committee, Water conservancy bureau, broadcasting station, agricultural bureau, etc). This reflected the influences by the unit system under the planned economy in China. Fig.6 Flat Brick Arch Yaodong Structure and Construction Technology 4.1 Plane Classification WeWe e e WeWe e e i i Due to the scale of the units, there are two types of ninnin e e i ei e nihnih ie ie i hi h i i TeninTenin ie ie ee Ceiing Ceiing ee Ceiing Ceiing arrangements of them. The first one is the "I" type which was mainly used for dwellings. On the one side of the yard lays 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.30.5m 0.5m the train-style yaodong dwellings which could be single- Fig.7 Two Types of Roof Section and Girder System storied or double-storied. On the other side are accessory 3.3 Single Building Comparative Analysis occupancy such as kitchens. One household usually included Traditional independent bricks yaodongs usually use black a cave on the first floor and a room above it. The former bricks for the arches and stones or bricks for the walls.