On February 16, the seventh batch of the 20th-Century Chinese Architectural Heritage projects were released in Maoming city, Guangdong Province. Feng Jicai Institute of Literature and Art from Tianjin University is on the project list.

Feng Jicai Institute of Literature, Tianjin University

The 20th-Century Chinese Architectural Heritage Project (the Project) has spanned seven years since 2016, listing altogether 697 buildings in seven batches. Guided by China Cultural Relics Academy and Architectural Society of China, the committee of the Project has introduced symbolic memorial buildings, hall buildings, educational, scientific and cultural and sports buildings, residential and residential areas, medical buildings, office buildings, hotel buildings, transportation buildings, commercial buildings, and industrial buildings to the list, comprising a century-long collection. On footsteps of the World Heritage List, the Project not only fills the gap of the 20th-century national architectural heritage, but encourages modern architects to practice innovation on the basis of inheritance.

Feng Jicai Institute of Literature, Tianjin University

In order to explore a new path of carrying forward and renovating Chinese traditional culture, the seventh batch of the Project goes deeper to the municipal- and county-level architecture, selecting one hundred buildings including Feng Jicai Institute, the Maoming Open-pit Mine Ecological Park and the “600 Households” residential buildings and architectural complex, National Botanical Garden North Park (historical buildings included), Jiangwan Stadium, Peking University Centennial Lecture Hall, Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel, Yunnan Art Theater, Jiangxi Longnan Liberation Street, and cemeteries and monuments designed by Mr. Liang Sicheng, father of modern Chinese architecture.

This is the second time that Tianjin University has proudly joined the 20th-Century Chinese Architectural Heritage List after the former Site of Peiyang University and the Nineth building on Weijin Road campus were included in 2016. Today, Feng Jicai Institute of Literature and Art shoulders a lofty mission, as Dean Feng Jicai puts it, “Our Institute will adhere to the principles of the Heritage Project and invest more in protecting and utilizing our buildings, so as to release the potential of this 20th-century architectural heritage to the full.”

Located on the bank of Youth Lake at Tianjin University (Weijin Road Campus), Feng Jicai Institute covers an area of 6,000 square meters after a four-year construction from 2001 to 2005. As the first masterpiece dedicated to his Alma Mater, Feng Jicai Institute was designed by Mr. Zhou Kai , a well-know Chinese architect and a graduate of Tianjin University, with wunique ingenuity and inspiration.

Zhou Kai (winner of the 8th Liang Sicheng Award, National Master of Engineering Survey and Design, Professor and doctoral supervisor of Tianjin University, Chairman and Chief Architect of HHDesign)

The square courtyard is encircled by high walls with opens holes of different sizes and shapes, allowing changing daylight to cast in. The oblique overhead building mass divides the square courtyard into two wedge-shaped courtyards in the north and south, with a sparkling lake lying under. This multi-layer design makes best use of the space and clears off all sight-line obstructions. The exterior concrete wall is deliberately treated by longitudinal cutting and roughening, creating a texture as if shaved by chisels. The interior floor, however, is simple and elegant, covered with tiles, green bricks and wood. The creative design of space allows for light beaming thorough and fading away with the day, creating a simple but sophisticated sense of feeling. That’s why Feng Jicai Institute, as a contemporary architecture full of modern beauty, leaves an impression of a tranquil and mysterious Oriental Academy.

Interior view of the Institute

The architectural model of Feng Jicai Institute

The location map and partial designs

Feng Jicai, as the Dean of the Institute, injects vigor and vitality to this building with art and humanity in turn, embodying the intense aroma of artistic pursuit of the university. Now the Institute has become a unique campus landscap, frequented by photography lovers. Every autumn, the courtyard is bedded with red leaves, alluring students to carry out various activities like reciting poems, playing and singing songs and taking pictures here. It also fosters a well-known campus cultural brand -- the annual Red Leaf Season whose influence extends outside of the campus.

Feng Jicai (well-known Chinese writer, painter and cultural scholar, Dean of Feng Ji

cai Institute of Literature and Art, Tianjin University)

Further protection and utilization of the building is underway.

Feng Jicai Institute of Literature and Art, today

Feng Jicai Institute of Literature and Art, in 2005

The Red Leaf Season

By: Cheng Xiaotong

Editor: Eva Yin