建筑学出国留学申请文书 Bin Jiang's PS.doc

Statement of PurposeMy eagerness to continue my education in Landscape Architecture grew from my compassion to underprivileged citizens, and my motivation to create ideal living space in developing countries. Thanks to five years experience of social investigation and professional design work, I gradually understood the essential reasons of cultural and environmental crisis happening in Chinese cities and also similar challenges facing developing nations, which encourage me improve my research on social and cultural factors in Design in your program.In China, chaotic urbanization and city beautification campaigns have placed Chinese landscape planning at the forefront of an important precipice: there exists the danger of losing cultural identity, integrity of public spaces and natural environment, and even social justice. In the meantime, many designers are working on fragments of land and fanatic imitation of western landscapes and urban styles without understanding their cultural complexities. Ironically, both government and designers ignore pressing problems that will influence the future of city, for example, the “rootlessness” of urban culture, the environmental degradation, the segregation of public spaces and communities, etc.Based on my professional experience and research, I am more competent of my important mission than before: In China, landscape architecture is now on the verge of change: landscape architects should not only focus on construction of artificial structures and decoration of gardens. Most importantly, we should bear the responsibility of solving strategic problems for cities and offer solution to help develop in a right direction. My interests mainly focus on urban waterfronts of Chinese cities. At present, urban waterfronts are involved in dramatic reconstruction because of huge profit from redevelopment. Moreover, the modernization has caused cultural heritages and traditional settlements in waterfronts to be replaced by decorative and exotic constructions. It is urgent time for us to find some solutions to meet future big challenges. Generally, I focused my research on the following aspects and aspire to develop them in the future:1. The construction of ecological infrastructure and heritage corridor.In eastern China, waterfronts are important parts of a broader ecological system and combine urban area with natural network and cultural fabric within regional area. Because of temptation of materialization, more and more Chinese abandon their hometown and rush into the city, which causes the broader population is facing dangerous natural forces, such as numerous floods and droughts every year. The ecological infrastructure based on watercourses will consist of permanent regional landscape of flood prevention, ecological networks, which will play positive role on natural protection, control of urban growth pattern, integrity of urban structure and green space, and spiritual and physical renewal.2. The revitalization of social life and public space.Waterfronts are places for social interaction. They are strategic elements to build a social network for whole city and serve every citizen. In addition, generations of poor families live along the water edge are facing the danger of displacement in Chinese cities. Planning of heritage corridors and cultural routes along rivers will provide equal recreational and educational opportunities for citizens, which can guarantee social justice and harmonious blend of social groups. 3. The redevelopment of brown fields in waterfronts. In Chinese cities, most industrial parcels are located along the waterfront area because conventional industry had strong dependence on water transportation and water resources. Most abandoned industrial lands possess rich cultural information about history of industrialization during the 19th century. In addition, they also have big potential for public recreational activities, historical tourism and ecological education. Most importantly, China should learn from the lessons of developed countries to create a specific mechanism to avoid the generation of brown fields in Chinese cities. In addition, the continuity of a citys memory and the revitalization of ordinary landscape and living environment are my academic interests. I am firmly committed to designing for all citizens. This desire pushes me to improve my reading on traditional lifestyles of common people and evolution of humans settlements in China. Furthermore, I try to find out the mechanism of the influence of globalization on the traditional Chinese landscape. I believe one of most important missions of landscape architect is to recover our cultural identity. Only if this way can we make peoples existence meaningful and rebuild the spiritual connection to our land and to the world beyond the earthly one.Given my professional and research experience I am now eager to start my research with a combination of landscape architecture and urban design. Prof. James Westcoats established research on the waterfronts and cultural landscape are inspiring to my own research. And as an expert of urban landscape in developing countries, he could surely provide the guidance I need. The courses offered by other professors provide the exact academic environment that supports my interdisciplinary inquiry into landscape architecture and urban design and helps me to push my intellectual limits as a student of Chinese landscape architect. Further, as the forefront of landscape architecture theories, UIUC gives its students great advantages in their scholastic enterprises. I am confident I can make great contribution to your esteemed program.