The practice of shading in tropical architecture:Le Corbusier’s Legacy and Hsia Changshi’s Exploration

Abstract

ABSTRACT The development process of global tropical architecture in the middle and late 20th century is investigated in this study. The architectural shading practices of Le Corbusier and Hsia Changshi in the same period are compared. The similarities and differences between the tropical architectural practices in the Lingnan area of China and the global tropical architectural movement are discussed. Since the 1930s, Le Corbusier explored the method of “brise soleil” in the hot climates of Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, exerting an essential influence on the tropical architectural forms in these areas. Similar forms of shading were widely used in architectural practice by Hsia Changshi in the Lingnan region of China. A hybrid feature in his architectural exploration was related to his early experience of studying abroad and working with Le Corbusier. The study presents the shading design practices of two architects, Le Corbusier and Hsia Changshi, in the tropical climate environment, and extends the architectural development in the regions where their respective works are located. The presentation and comparison of architectural history in this period deepen the understanding of the internal relationship between tropical architectural forms in different regions from a global perspective.