Let’s talk about the relationship between architecture and environment. The definition of architecture can be divided into a narrow sense and a broad sense. In the narrow sense, architecture is the scope of people and buildings. In the broad sense, the essence of architecture is the environment created by people. There are many terms for environment, such as “natural environment”, “artificial environment” and “cultural environment”. Susan Lange believes that "an environment is a creation in a non-geographical sense, a racial field created as visible, tangible, and sensible." She puts the environment in the "racial field" , is meaningful. She quoted other scholars' opinions and emphasized the relationship between architecture and environment. We cannot appreciate the buildings of a country, a nation, or even a place alone, but must be connected with its surrounding environment, because architecture is an environmental art.
Western architecture attaches great importance to the environment, and this was the case in ancient Greece. American scholar Edith Hamilton said: "In the minds of Greek architects, the location of the temple was of very important significance. When he made the plan, he connected it with the surrounding sea and sky for overall consideration. , starting from the site where it is located - it will be built on the empty hilltop or the vast plateau of the acropolis - determines the size of its volume, which always overlooks the panoramic view, and the talent of the architect makes this the main thing. Character becomes an integral part of the panorama. The architect never considers the building alone, but designs it in conjunction with its surroundings." The harmonious relationship between Greek architecture and the environment influenced the subsequent design and creation of architecture throughout Europe and America. Of course, European architecture takes more into account the "artificial environment" and "cultural environment." The most important buildings in the Western Middle Ages, such as Gothic churches, were built in cities and reflected people's worship of God. . The architecture after the Renaissance more reflects man's possession and conquest of nature, and ultimately from this possession and conquest, reconciliation between man and nature is achieved.
Ancient Chinese architecture places great emphasis on the relationship with the environment. The so-called "harmony between man and nature" embodies the idea of ??harmony between man and the environment. The witchcraft concept of Feng Shui also includes the relationship between people and the living environment. There is a supernatural understanding of the direction of mountains and the location of rivers, so that this supernatural thing can be connected with people's good and bad luck. The so-called "look up at the astronomy, look down at the geography, take things close to you, and take things far away" is an ideal and belief that people and the environment develop in a coordinated manner according to local conditions. We can feel the embodiment of this belief from a large number of poems praising pavilions, terraces, towers and pavilions in ancient Chinese literature, such as "Ode to Afang Palace", "Yueyang Tower", "Preface to Prince Teng's Pavilion" and "Dream of Red Mansions" about the Grand View Garden The descriptions have left us a deep impression of the harmonious coexistence of architecture and the environment, and we can also get on-the-spot confirmation in the remaining temples, palaces, houses and gardens in China.