知行合一，谦和于世：建筑师庄惟敏

加埃唐·萧

尚晋 译

知行合一，谦和于世：建筑师庄惟敏

加埃唐·萧

尚晋 译

学术与实践或许是一对永恒的矛盾，但庄惟敏一次又一次向世人证明二者在本质上是相互依存的。作为一名教育家、建筑师和学者，庄惟敏充满人文关怀的声音在建筑界不绝于耳。他直面当今世界的问题——自然、社会、文化、科学和经济。简言之，庄惟敏极富远见的创作不仅推动着中国面貌的变化，更影响着世界建筑的语言。

理想建筑，可持续性，复兴设计，城市再生

1 初遇

在担任世界建筑师联盟（UIA）主席时，我有幸与庄惟敏先生相识。他的年轻让我印象深刻。在其他国家的人眼里，中国人总是显得很年轻。但他的谦逊与众不同，寥寥数语即表达出传承已久的智慧，平静的脚步承载着历史的厚重。或许我的华裔祖父母在我身上留下了可以与他发生共鸣的东西，让我们仿佛心有灵犀。只是我从未达到同样的境界。他的“中国性”对全球化的吸收和消化程度令人钦佩。我一直在努力寻求历史、现代与未来之间的平衡，而对于这三者他似乎已经驾轻就熟。

2 和谐

这就是他，彬彬有礼的绅士，西式仪表之下显露出浓郁的中国风骨。庄惟敏有其自己的建筑哲学，以及对建筑方法的坚定信念。他能以深邃的东方思维处理西方的形式逻辑、表面质感以及丰富的现代造型。真实性与全球性之间的平衡是他永恒的探索。即使找到实现点他也不会停下，而是忘我地去延续作品的生命力——不只是建筑形态，更是其中的本质。

2.1 融汇古今

在对形象的探索中，庄惟敏对建筑语言和知识发展有着深刻的认识。他的作品不仅植根于地段，更在城市中激起涟漪，影响着其他建筑，最终融入城市的个性。他同样相信现代性只能通过保存文化与个性之间的完美平衡实现[1]。因此，他的作品会超越设计要求，营造出一种归属感，让人们看到场所的个性与社会是密不可分的[1]；如同历史塑造城市一样，城市也塑造人。他坚持的是能体现创造生命的基本原则的作品，他理解时间、文脉和历史的多重关系，并由此找到使其共生的途径。

由这些原则生成的设计会与城市的各种要素联系在一起，并与人紧密相连。它是互动的、开放的、温暖的。庄惟敏丰硕的成果折射出他在材料、尺度和形式上的精湛技艺。他创造出的不仅是建筑，更是一个富有生命的机体[2]。

2.2 形法自然

庄惟敏对可持续性的追求使这位学者走出安静的象牙塔；不再只是去理解人如何影响自然，而是着眼于探索适应现代世界的建筑性能[3]和可持续发展[4]的道路。他所倡导的是在个人、国家和世界层面上的目标和价值的革新。

他还为设计方案的实施奠定了基础，以期在社会和自然环境中实现理性而精妙的平衡。他让我们看到如何超越文化、技术和环境的樊篱，实现公众的利益，并未雨绸缪地避免环境灾难降临地球。

3 传道

在历史上，高等教育一直是促进学生全面发展、推动建筑运动的手段。统一化教学方案的理念在法律、会计和经济学科上都是成功的，因为其中的基本原则数十年都没有大的变化。相反，建筑学是日新月异的，一成不变的教学模式无法为学生传道。设计师通常是靠目的感或教给他们的建造原则来创作的。虽然世界在不断发展，但建筑教学并没有相应的进步去满足新的需求。庄惟敏的使命是创造一个教学的平台，去面对今天和未来的挑战。

在学术界和全球实践千变万化的背景下，他所代表的是赋予学生实践经验的独特道路。他在清华的工作成为沟通世界与中国的桥梁。清华得天独厚的资源[5]就是学生的工作室，让青春的创意和技能在现实的工作环境中开花。这巨大的贡献将成为一个标杆、一个传播的典范，影响着全世界一代又一代学生。很少有建筑师有机会在同样的生涯中传授丰富的经验，聚集全球的人脉；大多数建筑师是在从业和教学中选择其一。庄惟敏不仅能二者兼顾，而且执其牛耳。

21世纪初受邀加入UIA后，他赢得了更为广泛的国际关注，他的思想也进一步加深了东西交流。

3.1 作品与遗产

逻辑与创造力之间永恒的矛盾，是科学与艺术在建筑上不灭的火花。美只是一个幸福的愿望。我们对美的爱不是追求思维的美学。建筑师为何要设计代表思想、符号和回忆的建筑？我们为何要为生活和工作的空间惴惴不安？我在庄惟敏的作品中看到了在具体环境中对每座建筑内在灵魂的不懈追求。这是一场志在必得的战斗，让科学与艺术在建筑上实现完美的平衡，让一个国家最深厚的底蕴在新的时代缔造最辉煌的未来。

平衡是关键，是扎根哲学的关键。庄惟敏的作品能将我们带上超越建筑的旅途。它不只是引人瞩目的视觉美，更是一种真切的美德，饱含醇厚的人性。

庄惟敏的作品还在很多方面超越了建筑的最初功用。对于建筑而言，创新总是要面对强大的阻力。心理上的阻力包含多种情境。诺尔斯和林（Knowles and Linn）[6]认为它是人在得到指令时本能的抵触；它代表反对他人限制自我决定的下意识愿望；它指人回避不悦情绪的趋势，而对我们更重要的是，它揭示了人对变化的复杂心态。因此，创新的阻力是当下一个清晰的现实。庄惟敏努力引领学者研究适应人类世界的新方法，并在其作品上体现出无数亮点，从而证明了创新的价值。他的教学之路带来的不仅有源于本土的心得，还有更广泛的视角。

3.2 谦逊

庄惟敏的话不多，但言之有物。UIA的圈子里极少有人知道他的价值和品质。即便是UIA议会上面红耳赤的争论，他也不会显山露水，而是一言一行都有分寸。他极少主动发言，一旦开口则四座无声，众议皆息。这样的情形我已目睹多次。

4 远见

很多建筑师都坚信他们有权用建筑实现个人的追求和表达，而这会让空间丧失意义、功能和公平。庄惟敏的作品从不是这样。他关注的是创造更宜居的社会，他的愿景不仅是实现建筑的美与传承，更是营造一个公平的世界，他手中的建成环境是真正包罗万象的。

他的作品从未停留在建筑的基本功用上。我们可以在他当下的作品中看到对过去的传承，可以说他是超越时代、着眼未来的哲人。在他心中是人类亟待解决的环境、跨学科研究和建筑再利用的实际问题。他对中国2008年奥运会后体育场馆的后续利用研究[7]促使建筑领域建立一个亟需的新的框架。他在应对中国飞速发展带来的尖锐问题的同时，也为前沿实践奠定了基础。就这一点而言，他关于建筑策划和城市性的专著[8]也值得关注。

有人会觉得儒雅是西方的品质。而我从庄惟敏身上看到的是一种普遍的儒雅，毫不造作的新儒雅。文而无声，质也无形。洗尽铅华的空间，独存自由的本质。这是存在的真谛。

借用彼得·艾森曼（Peter Eisenmann）采访的妙语，那是空间的颂歌。

1 First Encounters

I have had the honor of personally befriending ZHUANG Weimin where we met during my term at the head of the International Union of Architects (UIA). Dynamism, Charisma and Intelligence; I was struck by his youth. Seen from the rest of the world, the Chinese look forever young. But there was something special about his humble silence, his way of transmitting the wisdom of a long heritage legacy in just but a few words. Walking quietly through the modern times carrying the depth of history behind. We shared something in common probably inherited from my Chinese grandparents; a legacy, an untold identity connecting us. However, I have never been able to achieve the same comfort zone. It is impressive to see how well the globalisation was absorbed and diluted in his "Chineseness". I have always struggled to find the balance among the three elements－yesterday, today and tomorrow. He seems to have tamed all three of them.

2 Harmony

And there he is, a courteous man with elegant western manners, with the strong identity of Chinese Character. He lives in an incarnate manner the philosophy of his profession, the strong beliefs of his approach to architecture. He handles the western logic of forms, the sensuality of exteriors, and the exuberance of modern contemporary shapes with the inner depth of the oriental mind. He is in constant quest for the balance of authenticity and globalism. And when he achieves it, he does not stop there, but works ferociously to ensure longevity of his work, not only in its built form, but most importantly in its essence.

2.1 Symbiosing past and present

In his quest to shape our landscape, Weimin understands the evolution of the architectural language and intelligence. His work etches not only in its desired land plot, but ripples throughout the city, influencing other developments, and ultimately contributing to shaping urbanism. He shares the belief that modernity can be achieved only with a strong balance with the preservation of culture and identity[1]. In doing so, he ultimately achieves more than desired, promoting a sense of belonging and highlighting that the identity of a place is strongly linked to its society[1]; as history shapes a city, the city shapes its people. He believes in work underlying those basic principles that create life, and he understands the various relationships of time, context and history that leads to a solution enabling cohabitation.

The work originating from those principles leads to designs that lives in connection with the various elements of the city and engages with the populace. It is interactive, welcoming, and warm. Through the plethora of Weimin's portfolio, he demonstrates a mastery of materials, scale, and form creates more than architecture; he enables a living fabric[2].

2.2 Shaping lessons from nature

Weimin's drive towards sustainability shifted him from a passive to active researcher, not only looking at understanding how we impact nature, but goes beyond in helping to devise methods of building performance[3]and sustainable development[4]more appropriate to our modern world. He hence a calls for a change of goals and values at an individual, national and international level.

5 惟于中国

庄惟敏是我心中灵感的源泉，文化的桥梁；多元而不失个性。他是在多元文化背景下游刃有余的建筑师，立足中国，放眼世界。他的创作在兼顾西方逻辑的同时传承着中国的特色，并使之在21世纪发扬光大。庄惟敏将西方的技术和思想融会贯通，同时悄然地进行了变革，这种变革是广泛、积极而稳健的。

学贯中西的庄惟敏将西方的技艺完美地融于中国千年的底蕴之中。

庄惟敏还是理论和实践的开拓者，以严谨的科学分析和深刻的直观感悟，让建筑与城市日益适应人的需求和文化。

结识庄惟敏，见证他对建筑世界的卓越贡献，是我的荣幸。□

He helps lay the foundation for enabling planned measures to take place with the view of reaching a rational and planned equilibrium in our social and natural environment. Weimin teaches us how to transcend cross cultural, technological and environmental barriers to act in the common good and pre-emptively avert catastrophic environmental befall on our planet.

3 Transmission

Historically, higher education has been a vehicle to promote holistic student development and help shape architectural movements. The ideology of providing consistent educational schemes works successfully in educational fields such as law, accounting or economics, which consist mostly of static principles that do not evolve much through the decades. Architecture, on the other hand, is ever-changing and cannot be properly imparted through a rigid educational mould. Designers usually create from a sense of purpose or simply follow principles of construction that have been taught to them. While our planet has evolved through change, by comparison, architectural education has not similarly evolved to match its needs. Weimin's mission however was set on fostering an education platform set to tackle the challenges of today, and that of tomorrow.

Among the immense variety of situations within the academia world and global practice environment, he could embody a unique situation engaging the students into the world of practical experience. His work at Tsinghua was a two-way bridge connecting the world and China. Tsinghua has this unique asset[5]which is the students' studio, an entityproposing the blossom of the young creative and innovative skills into the pragmatic harshness of the work environment. This immense contribution is to become a benchmark, a transmission model to influence generations of students across the whole world. Few architects have had the opportunity during the same career to transmit and share their wealth of experience, of global network of contacts. they practise or they teach. ZHUANG Weimin could not only do both at the same time, but also did it at the helm of the institution.

When he was invited to engage with the UIA in the early 2000s, he obtained an even larger international network on the listen to his ideas leading to a dynamic exchange between the East and West.

3.1 Works and Legacy

the constant battle between logic and creativity. this is a universal dilemma of architecture being both and art and a science. Beauty is only a promise of happiness. Our love for beauty is different from an intellectual aesthetics quest. Why should architects be worried to design buildings that express a specific idea, symbol or memory? Why are we so vulnerable to the space we live or work in? I have seen in ZHUANG Weimin's work the perpetual search of the inner soul for each project in its environment. A determined battle to express the depth of this country's identity in its new destiny, a promising successful future. The quest to translate into a material and physical expression of this balance.

Balance is key. It is key to the deep rooted philosophy. the observation of his works may take us to a journey beyond architecture. It is not only visual beauty that attracts our eye, but the fact that they seem to possess a kind of virtue, or maturity. Something distinctively human.

Weimin's work also transcends its original purpose in more ways than one. In the architectural field, innovation comes with a strong sense of resistance. Psychological resistance is a broad notion that refers to various situations. Knowles and Linn[6]suggest that it encompasses the instinctive noncompliance that arises when a directive is imposed on one; it embodies the automatic desire to resist someone else's attempt to limit our choices; it refers to peoples' avoidance of unpleasant thoughts but also, and particularly relevant to us, it symbolizes the ambivalence that people have towards change. Hence, resistance to innovation is predictable and a very present reality. Weimin's drive to lead researchers to investigate new methods more adaptable to our human world showcases the numerous advantages offered by his work and demonstrates that innovation is worthwhile. The education agenda of Weimin thus contributes to an influence on that puts in perspective not only local gain, but also in the wider scheme of things.

3.2 Humility

A man of few words. But each word mentioned bears the full weight of its importance. Few architects and people in the UIA circles know in depth the value and the quality of the man. Even during the highest moments of passionate debate at the UIA Council, could we hear him engage impetuously in the discussion. Each situation is treated with care and respect. He seldom asks for the floor, but when he does, his few humble words silence many arguments and win the consensus. I have been a silent observer of several similar situations.

4 Visionary

Many architects believe that they are eligible to use the act of building for their personal exploration and expression. This creates a space void of meaning and lacking in function and equity. Weimin's work goes far in the opposite direction; his focus is that of creating a more liveable society and his vision leads towards the creation of a world not only rich in architectural beauty and inheritance, but also rich in equity. He truly englobes the built environment in all its colors.

Many of his works goes beyond their primary purpose. As we saw in him the man preserving the past in his works of the present, we now see a man of the future, living ahead of his time and thinking about environmental factors, multidisciplinary research, and building re-use in a fabric that is, urgently and flagrantly, in need of such. His research work on post-utilisation of sport venues after the 2008 Olympic events in China[7]leads the way towards a much needed new framework in architecture. His research paves way for pioneering practices as he engages in cutting egde issues in a rapidly growing China, and influences an even larger demographic area. In this respect, his works in Architectural programming[8]and Urbanism, is also worth mentioning.

Some may think that elegance is a western quality. What I have seen, through Weimin, is a universal definition of elegance, a new form of elegance devoid of artefacts, a loud silence of invisible forces. A space liberated from all superfluous elements, leaving only the essence. the atmosphere of things.

Or as elegantly mentioned in his interview as a celebration of space, quoting Peter Eisenmann.

5 One in China

I see in ZHUANG Weimin a source of inspiration, a bridge between cultures without losing one's identity. I see in him an architect who accommodates his bi-culturality; being deeply Chinese and Global at the same time. there is a form of western logic in his work, in his career while he has deeply preserved and blossom the Chinese identity in the XXIst century. the western technology and thinking has totally been absorbed and diluted in a silent transformation. this transformation is diffuse, progressive, and slow in apparence.

The cohabitation within himself of the two traditions – China and the west – optimising the use of all the resources offered by the West among those that China has accumulated during the last millennia.

Weimin proposes alternatives, essential theoretical and practical approaches, to architecture and urbanism that is more adaptive to the human need and cultural aspirations, combining rigorous scientific analysis with deeply rooted intuitive experience.

I am happy to know ZHUANG Weimin. It has been an honour to be a personal and privileged witness of his contribution to the world of architecture. □

[1] Huang Juzheng. Architecture and Creativity. Architect's Journal, 2012.

[2] Zhuang Weimin. Built in Mind. China Building Industry Press, 2000.

[3] Zhuang Weimin, Lu Peng, and Wang Ying. Influence Factors of the Extension of Green Buildings: Empirical Research from Construction Industry. Construction Economy 2 (2008).

[4] Liang Sisi, Zhuang Weimin. Assessing Building Performance:the Guarantee of the Building Delivery Life Cycle,and the Environmental Sustainable Development—Comment and Introduction of Assessing Building Performance. The Architect, 2007(02): 147-50.

[5] Zhuang Weimin. China Builds, 2014. (http://issuu. com/visionincluded/docs/china_builds)

[6] Knowles, E. S., J. A. Linn. Resistance and Persuasion. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 2004.

[7] Zhuang Weimin, Li Tie, Ma Jia. Research on Utilisation of Sports Venues after the Events: Taking as an Example the Design of the Judo and Taekwondo Gymnasium for the 2008 Olympic Games. Urbanism and Architecture, 2006(03): 19-22.

[8] Zhang Wei, Zhuang Weimin. Operation System of Architectural Programming: Realization from the theory to the Practice. Architectural Creation, 2008(06).

Teaching and Practice: ZHUANG Weimin, a Humble Man of the World

Gaetan Siew

Translated by SHANG Jin

There can be a dichotomy between academia and real world practice, but ZHUANG Weimin, shows us, over and over again, how both worlds are in need of each other. As an educator, architect & researcher, Weimin addresses the architectural crowd with a tone resonating with humanitarianism. He engages with the brave issues of our contemporary world, addressing; nature, society, culture, science, and economy. Simply put, Weimin's visionary work is not only contributing change in China's landscape, it influences architectural language on a much larger picture.

visionary architecture, sustainability, rehabilitation design, urban regenaration

国家土地发展公司（智能毛里求斯）董事长，UIA前任主席

2015-09-24