Meta-Geometry in Spatial Design. Perceptual Space Analysis in Chinese Landscape Architecture

This work tries to analyze some selected cases of Chinese Landscape Architecture, intended as space phenomena with reference to the perceptual space related to perspectival perception. It is generally known that the classical Western graphic analysis and design in architecture was based on geometry knowledge. Most of these activities were also based on some xed points perspective, as another indicator of the anthropocentrism. It is also generally known that Chinese traditional landscape painting was a typical kind of artistic production of scattered perspective, based on certain guidelines and principles to create architectural landscapes, usually named Chinese gardens, and landscape paintings in the ancient China. This work will propose a retrospective research focusing on the philosophical roots of the mentioned principles. The aim is to reveal the essence of those scattered perspective, either in 2D space (graphic), also considering its interactivity eects, or when the core idea was realized as a perceptual space in real 3D space organizations. Moreover these principles pertain to a wider cognitive level, which won't be limited by classic geometry, but is also related to the non-Euclidean elds, as well as to several non-strictly-geometrical aspects of the space, what we dene in terms of Meta-geometry here. Series of graphical analyses of the selected phenomena in Chinese landscape architecture will be presented, aiming to translate this idea into visual diagrams. This will improve the understandability of these spatial systems, moreover, it might provide some inspiration and maybe new ideas for the graphic representation of contemporary architecture and spatial design in this eld, as well as a comparison between the Western and the Eastern points of view in relation to landscape architectural design. The topic presented here is a part of a PhD program (Architectural, Urban and Interior Design) carried out at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies of the Politecnico di Milano.