ABSTRACT
Discussions of technology initiatives in architectural design and adaptive thinking in Christian universities in modern China are as yet insufficient. This study focuses on “translation” during the Sinicization process in the architecture of Christian universities in China in the early 20th century. With evidence from West China Union University, it conducts a retrospective analysis of the process, methods and results of the campus planning and architectural design in which Western architects were involved. Taking a closer look into aspects such as material selection, structure, construction, decoration and craftsmanship, it is borne out from the perspective of engineering that it is possible to translate “Chinese roof” mainly based on the Western masonry structure, but it also involves many challenges – it is the thinking and experiments of Western architects to solve such challenges that may contribute to the interesting change of construction cultures from hybridization to integration.
