The “Chinese Curved Roof” for a Christian University: Interactions Between Building Technology and Cultural Perception in the Case of the University of Nanking

The construction activities conducted by the Christian missionaries in China at the beginning of the twentieth century served as a catalyst for the emergence of the modern Chinese architecture movement, which is characterized by the cultural exchange between China and the West. The architecture of certain Christian universities in China was designed by missionary architects and executed by local craftsmen, demonstrating not only significant processes of technological import but also the outcomes of “Sinicization” that emerged from intercultural perceptions. This chapter explores the impact of Christianity missionaries on modern Chinese architecture through the case study of the University of Nanking, which was sponsored by American Churches. The chapter examines how various stakeholders from different cultural backgrounds tried to incorporate traditional Chinese architectural features, represented by the curved roof, into the design for a Christian university campus, where modern technologies and Western construction principles were applied. This chapter begins by discussing the paradigms of traditional Chinese roof appearance and structure, comparing them to Western trussed roofs. Through historical drawings, photographs, on-site surveys, and three-dimensional models, the paper analyzes how missionary architects misunderstood the features of Chinese architecture and struggled to control the curve of the roof. Moreover, the paper also identifies instances of “positive misinterpretations” during the construction activities that led to new tectonic innovations and the development of the modern construction industry system in China. Overall, this chapter sheds light on the interactions between building technology and cultural perception in modern Chinese architecture history, as well as highlights the importance of understanding the role of missionary architecture in Chinese modern heritage.