June 5, 2022, Mr. Wu Liangyong celebrated his 100th birthday. Industry colleagues carefully prepared a celebration ceremony for the old man, but due to the impact of the epidemic, the celebration ceremony had to be held online. So on the day of Mr. Wu Liangyong's 100th birthday, a top online seminar gathered at the "three giants" of Tsinghua University, , Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Chinese Academy of Engineering.
"No matter which country you go to, when it comes to Chinese architecture, everyone will say, 'I know Wu Liangyong'." The famous Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei once commented this way. People talked about Wu Liangyong's contribution to China's architectural education, and respected his mind and sentiment: "The master is great, he stands up with academics, enjoys educating people, practices for his ideals, and strives for his faith." Wu Liangyong's 100-year-old life is a journey of thousands of miles, planning for his residence, and integrating his ideals and faith throughout the whole life.
Young's determination
Wu Liangyong's story began in Nanjing a hundred years ago. It was the seventh day of the fifth lunar month in 1922. In a narrow alley, there were clothes for drying on top of the head, and there were high and low eaves on both sides, and the alley was filled with tempting aroma of food. At No. 20, Xiegong Temple in Laomenxi, Nanjing City, in an old house with a small frontage, the whole family is celebrating the arrival of a new life.
This new boy was named "Yong", which means big clock, and is usually placed in the middle in ancient national bands. Many years later, some people commented that Wu Liangyong's role in the Chinese architectural world and the position he stood were as important and irreplaceable as the "Yong" in his name.
922, the Northern Expedition just ended, and Nanjing was in a rare and short-term stable situation. This Wu family, named "Liang Yong", remembers that there is an lotus flower pot in the yard of the home, and an wintersweet tree in the southeast. The fragrance of flowers and rice are the first beautiful memories of his life.
Young Wu Liangyong
The Wu family has a clean and elegant family. His grandfather is the president of Nanjing Satin Chamber of Commerce. He knows that "it is better to accumulate virtue than to accumulate wealth". He is enthusiastic about public welfare undertakings, set up a porridge factory in winter, and distributes summer resistant medicine in summer to help the poor. The Wu family is very respected.
But soon, affected by the world economic depression, local satin business in Nanjing went bankrupt one after another, and the family was in trouble. It was all up to Wu Liangyong's mother to support all the affairs of the family and barely maintain the basic living expenses of the family every month.
Although life is difficult, my mother is not ambiguity in education. Wu Liangyong studied at Hehuatang Primary School in Nanjing and has a good teacher. The school teachers especially encouraged Wu Liangyong to learn painting and arts and crafts. When he was in elementary school, Wu Liangyong's paintings were sent to the International League for exhibition by the school.
Relatives recalled that Wu Liangyong was different from other children when he was young. He often paid attention to old houses and often stared at the house for half a day at first sight. Wu Liangyong, who was in his teens, once told his grandfather that he wanted to be an architect in the future, but at that time his grandfather didn't know what an architect was and thought he was a "mason" and taught Wu Liangyong a lesson.
Study in exile
1 In October 1937, Wu Liangyong was admitted to high school for only one month, and The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression broke out. In order to avoid plane bombing, the whole family began a life of displaced escape. Hiding from Pukou, Nanjing to Yuanshan Town, Jiangning County, then moving to Zhenjiang and Huangshan, and then back to Nanjing. In the end, Wu Liangyong's family decided to let him and his brother Wu Liangzhu move in with Jinling University .
Before leaving, my father paced back and forth in the room and told him: "We have to walk the road in the future by ourselves. We must work hard to move forward. We must not be poor and not be short-sighted. We must respect our elder brothers and remember to be 'friendly and respectful'." The mother sewed a gold ring into his cotton coat with tears in her eyes in case of emergency.
Before the disaster, the family separated from their flesh and blood. I don’t know when the next time they reunite with their parents.This long journey of studying requires this freshman in high school to embark on a journey alone. Wu Liangyong could not predict the dangers he would encounter in the future, but he did not lack the courage to go on the road.
Wu Liangzhu and Wu Liangyong took a photo with each other
Wu Liangyong and his brother arrived in Wuhan by boat. As soon as they set off, they lost their luggage. The two brothers could only cover a quilt. They quickly left Wuhan and went from Yichang to Chongqing. On New Year's Day in 1938, there was no New Year's atmosphere at all. Wu Liangyong came to Chongqing and finally settled in Hechuan county town. In Hechuan, Wu Liangyong finally had a thick quilt of his own, and he entered a school specially set up for exiled students to start learning again. The start of the school year was already the second half of the first semester of high school, and the war was the only credit he took in the first semester of his first year of high school.
The sudden disaster occurred on July 27, 1940, the last day of Wu Liangyong’s entrance examination. When he finished his last test paper and was about to take a break, he heard the air defense alarm sounding and Japanese fighter jets attacked! "For a moment, the earth was shaking, and rubble, gravel and dust kept falling by our side. When we came out of the air-raid shelter, the fires soared into the sky, the streets and alleys were in a mess, and most of the city in Hechuan was swallowed up by the fire..."
The fire burned until the rain fell the next morning before it was extinguished. During this air strike, Dai Jinchen, a Chinese teacher at Suzhou Middle School who had been taking care of Wu Liangyong, was killed. Although Wu Liangyong was not injured, his heart was severely damaged. The everlasting fire and the whimpering sounds on the streets were the eternal pain in his heart. When he recalled the tragic situation in the past 70 years later, he would still breathe rapidly and breathe.
This pain prompted Wu Liangyong to choose the Department of Architecture after being admitted to Chongqing Central University. He hoped to become an architect and rebuild his home with his own hands after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. During his four years in college, Wu Liangyong's study was extremely solid. He paid special attention to the study of architecture and art. During his study, he gradually felt the connection between art and architecture, and gradually felt enlightened, and faintly felt that he had chosen the right direction for the future.
Wu Liangyong
942, Japan launched the Pacific War , and the Yunnan-Burma Highway was interrupted. After the Japanese invasion, they occupied the western Yunnan area west of the Nujiang River, and the distant western Yunnan became China's last line of defense. The United States sent General Stilwell to form the Expeditionary Force in India, opening up the Yunnan-Burma Highway from both internal and external directions. Therefore, , a fresh graduate of in various schools in mainland China, has been recruited as translators, including Wu Liangyong.
In May 11944, Wu Liangyong, who was recruited, crossed the Nujiang River on a rubber raft, received training in new weapons, and then moved into the jungle with the army, rode a horse to fight. He experienced the famous Songshan Battle, until the Wanding met, which lasted for about a year.
Recalling this unforgettable military career, Wu Liangyong said: "During the Anti-Japanese War, it was a period of my development. I fled with my relatives and friends. I was always unable to eat enough and my health was always bad. However, the western Yunnan front continued to march and walk, and my body became strong. The trip to Guizhou in Yunnan established my feelings for the southwest mountains and rivers and people, which has never been erased and has been increasing day by day."
was invited by Liang Sicheng ,
participated in the creation of the Department of Architecture of Tsinghua University
944, just as Wu Liangyong was sitting on a rubber raft across the Nujiang River, his classmate published the paper "Explanation of the "Qi"" he wrote in his junior year in a mimeographed magazine in the class. "I happened to see it for Mr. Liang Sicheng, so he asked Mr. Lu Sheng to inquire about my whereabouts and hire me as an assistant."
"Explanation of "Que"" is a paper with pictures and texts, which systematically sorted out the main functions, shape characteristics and evolutionary laws of various ancient "Que" and their eras.During the most difficult years of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Wu Liangyong was able to collect a lot of information and carefully organize it. Liang Sicheng believed that this young man had good basic skills in architecture and was a rare talent.
In addition to personal determination and hard work, a person's success will also make the person more determined on the right path when encountering the guidance of a master at critical moments. It was at the critical point in life that Wu Liangyong met Liang Sicheng. "Mr. Liang changed my life trajectory. I learned from him how to act and do knowledge."
946, Liang Sicheng invited Wu Liangyong to participate in the creation of the Department of Architecture at Tsinghua University. Liang Sicheng's eldest daughter, Liang Zaibing, recalled that at that time, only Wu Liangyong could work in the entire architecture department. With the support of Lin Huiyin on the hospital bed, he prepared various affairs, from raising tables, chairs, benches, and to preparing courses for freshmen after school starts. Fortunately, the Department of Architecture finally started school as scheduled.
1948, under the recommendation of Liang Sicheng, Wu Liangyong went to the Department of Architecture and Urban Design of Kuangxi Academy of Art in the United States to further study, studying under the architect Ero Salining , and obtained a master's degree the following year.
950, Wu Liangyong's design work won the honorary award for the Rome Prize Competition, and Salinen recommended him to work in his own firm. At the end of the same year, a letter was sent from Beijing to the United States. The person who wrote the letter was a couple - Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin, and the recipient was Wu Liangyong. There are many lines of crooked words in the blank space. You can tell at a glance that it was written by Lin Huiyin in bed: "Beijing is full of waste and is about to carry out urban planning. I hope you will come back soon." This letter stepped up Wu Liangyong's pace of returning to China.
The journey back to China has gone through a very difficult process for Wu Liangyong. At that time, Hong Kong had blocked the returnees and refused to apply for an transit visa . Wu Liangyong returned to China on the cruise ship "Cleveland". The ship docked at , Kowloon and needed to transfer to the railway. After everyone gets off the boat, they need to carry their luggage and walk onto the train under the escort of military and police from both sides of the left and right. The mathematician Hua Luogeng returned to China on the same boat.
When Wu Liangyong was 80 years old, he once again measured the choice he made at that time. He was very glad that he did not make a mistake in making a choice. "Now, if I stayed in the United States at that time, I would not have had the hard work and gains in the field of Chinese construction in the next few decades... A similar situation is unknown how much a person has to experience in his life. Looking back on the past, the reason why I did not turn the wrong direction is largely related to the early determination. I have been determined to do something in the academic field of architecture and cities for a long time. At different times, according to actual conditions, make corresponding choices."
After returning to China, Wu Liangyong quickly realized the "all things to be developed" in New China. Not only does China's important platform for architectural education, design and scientific research need to be built, but many important construction tasks such as Beijing urban planning, , Tiananmen area construction have also fallen on Tsinghua architects. Wu Liangyong's career starting point is a "high starting point": he participated in the design and construction of the "Monument to the People's Heroes"; as a representative of the Tsinghua Architecture Department, he was hired as an advisor to the Beijing Municipal Planning Committee; he participated in the work of the three committees of the "General Painting, Transportation, Gardening" of the Beijing Municipal Construction Bureau at that time... In 1959, Wu Liangyong advocated the establishment of the Tsinghua University Architectural Design Institute , and also served as the head of the expansion planning and design of Tiananmen Square .
for human habitation,
"Ju'er Hutong " changed to a new look
979 Tangshan earthquake , considering the impact of aftershocks, many people in Tsinghua Park lived in a temporary earthquake-resistant shed, but in order to facilitate work, Wu Liangyong returned to his home alone and picked a small room closest to the door. There was no electricity, so he lit a candle to continue working at his desk, doing the reconstruction planning and design of Tangshan .
sson Wu ChenRecalling when he was a child, the most common ones were the back of his father working at his desk. At that time, there were no air conditioners or fans. When many people were enjoying the cool air in summer, Wu Liangyong sat on a rattan chair, wearing a sweat shirt, writing articles and drawing drawings in a sweaty manner, and refused to give up every minute.
After the reform and opening up , Wu Liangyong was elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (later renamed Academician). Based on his professional sense of social responsibility, he realized that architecture must move towards science, and he must advance towards the breadth and depth of architecture.
1984, Wu Liangyong officially stepped down from the administrative position of the Department of Architecture and founded the Institute of Architecture and Urban Studies. Half a room, a table, and two chairs, and began a difficult business with only 20,000 yuan in research funds. Wu Liangyong, a newly graduated undergraduate and several master's students, carried out scientific research with all his efforts. He often gets up at 3 a.m. to work, after two or three hours of "fighting", he goes to work on time after a short rest. Every morning and evening, the white-haired scholar walked across the campus on the way to and from get off work, which became a scene at Tsinghua University.
Wu Liangyong realized that architecture is not just a problem from small houses to large buildings, but a social phenomenon formed by the combination of people and architecture, nature, society, etc. This breakthrough in this concept made Wu Liangyong add many contents such as region, culture, science and technology, art, education, etc. to architecture one by one to start thinking.
Juer Hutong before the transformation
987, the courtyard of Juer Hutong No. 41, Dongcheng Juer Hutong, Beijing attracted Wu Liangyong's interest. This place was originally a temple, but later it gradually moved into 44 households, but there was only one faucet and street public toilet. The per capita housing area was only about 5 square meters. It was a typical "dangerous leak" (dangerous houses, water leaks, and rain leaks) community, and it was very difficult to renovate. Mr. Wu Liangyong and the Dongcheng District Government agreed to take the No. 41 Juer Hutong as a pilot project for the renovation of the old city in Beijing and renovate 13 of the courtyards.
Juer Hutong is not far from the popular tourist attraction in Beijing Nanluoguxiang . This alley has the "Suning Bo Mansion" and the mansion of the minister Beiyang . It is a national cultural relics protection unit. Historical relics have added a strong alley style to this place. But for those living in the yard No. 41, the living environment here is very bad. What kind of transformation here can be made so that people can live in a convenient way without destroying the appearance of the alley?
Many people believe that it is a bit "small" to invite an architectural design master like Wu Liangyong to transform it, but Wu Liangyong himself does not think so. The renovation plan of Juer Hutong was reviewed seven times before and after, and it took so many trouble. Wu Liangyong repeatedly revised it and never got tired of it. 95 pieces of design drawings were released.
At the end of 11994, a building complex with a total of more than 20,000 square meters and 13 new courtyard courtyards, which were completed on the basis of demolishing 1.255 hectares of old buildings, was officially unveiled. People are a little unfamiliar with this new building renamed "Juer Community". The exterior of Juer Community is Hui style style, and the scale and style are different from the traditional Beijing Siheyuan . Each courtyard group consists of three courtyard units. The courtyard is a small building with two to three floors. The center of each courtyard unit is a yard, which looks like a "heightening" Siheyuan.
The new appearance of Juer Hutong after the renovation
Wu Liangyong calls this new building form "like courtyard". It not only retains the advantages of traditional courtyards' aggregation and privacy, but also breaks through the floor height limit of traditional courtyards. Under the conditions of ensuring reasonable sunshine, the largest number of residents are placed on the limited land area, and ensures that each family has its own toilet and kitchen. What's more rare is that Wu Liangyong also retains two ancient trees in the courtyard. After the first phase of the project is completed, the cost will be controlled within 500 yuan per square meter.In addition, the overall design of the community maintains the original chessboard-style road grid and street alley system, avoiding large-scale demolition and construction, and retaining the original texture of the building.
Beijing People's Art Theater Later, based on Juer Hutong as the blueprint, rehearsed a drama "Gala Hutong", which reflects the story of the renovation of dilapidated old houses. The famous actor Huang Zonghan also made up a stand-up crosstalk and performed it personally at the New Year's Gala at Tsinghua University. From then on, Juer Hutong has had a great influence among the people of Beijing and has become a model work for the renovation of the old urban area of Beijing.
993, the British Housing and Social Housing Foundation awarded Juer Hutong the "World Habitat Award", evaluating this project opened a new way to renew in the center of Beijing, avoiding the demolition of all historic decayed houses in the old city, and also exploring a new way to raise funds and plan for residential construction in historical cities.
After handing over the work of Juer Hutong Siheyuan Project, Wu Liangyong proposed the theory of "general architecture" and "human living environment science" and a series of important scientific research projects. This architect who has unique thinking about architecture finally ushered in his golden age.
allows people to live poetically,
is his lifelong pursuit
In the past 40 years, Wu Liangyong's academic horizon has become broader. He learned from his long-term participation in the design of Beijing urban master plan that the urban planning of a super metropolis must "look out of the city and look at the city" and plan from the strategic perspective of coordinated development of large regions - Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta , northwest Yunnan, Three Gorges Project, and South-to-North Water Diversion Project have his wisdom in the regional coordinated planning process.
Based on the development needs of Chinese local architecture, Mr. Wu Liangyong proposed "general architecture" and established the science of human settlement environment. To this end, he founded the Tsinghua University Human Resources Environment Research Center at the age of 73.
In his later years, Wu Liangyong still insisted on going to work all day every day. He was used to getting up at 4 a.m., working for more than two hours, closing his eyes and squinting for a while, then taking his wife's prepared lunch and leaving for work. When he was in his 90s, Wu Liangyong still stayed in his teaching position, taught undergraduates and graduate students, and carried out scientific research with his team.
Teacher is always his proudest identity. Wu Liangyong strictly controls the learning achievements of every student. He emphasized the forward-looking nature of learning and would guide students to conduct in-depth research on major issues involving social development; he emphasized the systematic nature of learning and comprehensive research was conducted under the premise of extensive citations; he emphasized the pertinence of learning and required students to work together with actual conditions to solve current prominent problems.
With Wu Liangyong's efforts, the team of the Department of Architecture of Tsinghua University has been growing, and the number of faculty and students has increased year by year. To this day, this college he founded has become a national palace for architectural teaching. Over the past few decades, he has cultivated a group of leading figures and elite talents in the construction industry.
999, at the 20th World Architects Conference of International Architects, the " Beijing Charter " drafted by Wu Liangyong was approved - this is the only charter since the establishment of the International Construction Association in 1948, marking that the theory of human settlement environment has been widely accepted and admired by the world architectural community, and has reversed the long-term dominance of Western architectural theory.
Qufu China Confucius Institute, Central Academy of Fine Arts new campus, Nanjing Jiangning Weaving Museum and other architectural designs, Guilin Central District Detailed Planning, Wuxi Space Development Plan and other urban planning, and Suzhou Master Planning Development Research and Beijing Olympic Construction Research and other urban development strategies. After 2000, Wu Liangyong's "report card" has been written all over the land of China.
"Jinling Dream of Red Mansions Museum" designed by Wu Liangyong
In the summer of 2008, 86-year-old Wu Liangyong suffered a cerebral infarction while inspecting the construction site of the Jinling Dream of Red Mansions Museum in Nanjing and fell to the ground. The doctor judged that he would never stand up again in his life. However, in the face of the inconvenience of hands and feet caused by cerebral infarction, Wu Liangyong began rehabilitation treatment that ordinary people could not imagine. "I only practice for 4 hours a day, but I only practice for 8 hours. I told myself that I must stand up as soon as possible and return to the construction field I love." Wu Liangyong made up his mind secretly. The pain did not defeat him, but instead inspired his more tenacious fighting spirit. It is precisely because of this extraordinary perseverance that Wu Liangyong can walk again, and his hands can hold a pen and write without being obedient. Even the doctor said that it was incredible.
On the morning of February 14, 2012, Wu Liangyong, who was 90 years old and had just recovered from a serious illness, won the most important honor in his life - National Highest Science and Technology Award . He is the first person to be among the highest honors in China's science and technology industry as a "people's architect".
Review Committee wrote in its review opinion: "Academician Wu Liangyong is the creator of my country's human settlement environment science. He established a spatial planning and design method and practical model with human settlement environment construction as the core, providing a theoretical framework for achieving the goal of orderly space and livable environment."
On June 5, 2022, Mr. Wu Liangyong made a public appearance at the online event of his 100th birthday. He is still full of energy and a strong voice, and expresses his gratitude to the guests one by one. Looking back on his life experience, Wu Liangyong recalled affectionately: "Water to remember the source of the sages, the teachings of his teachers, the support of his colleagues, and the concerted efforts of the team. I firmly believe that mankind continues to pursue a healthier and better life. The construction of a human settlement environment is the common cause of mankind. The science of human settlement environment has a broad development prospect. I am willing to join the masses to encourage and explore the new realm of human settlement science."
"What I pursue throughout my life is to make the whole society have a good living environment that is harmonious with nature, so that people can live on the earth poetically and picturesquely." This is the life of a generation of architectural master Wu Liangyong.
Source: Magazines from all walks of life, Issue 9, 2022
Author: Guangyu
