Temporal-spatial Paradigms in Chinese Domestic Architecture

Abstract

As seen in Confucian traditions, Chinese thought presents a cyclical, multidimensional conceptualisation of time, deeply rooted in cosmic harmony and rituals. The Chinese house, often marginalised in historiography, embeds the complex interplay between space and time. Unlike the Western emphasis on spatial complexity, Chinese homes are spatially minimal yet richly imbued with temporal rituals, as seen in courtyard-centric layouts and Confucian hierarchies shaping familial and societal dynamics. Ritual cycles govern daily activities and intergenerational relationships, embedding a continuity that transcends physical design. This paper explores how traditional Chinese domestic architecture's temporal-spatial paradigm and historical roots in ritual systems have been reinterpreted in contemporary practices. Through three case studies of an urban apartment, a rural house, and a renovated house in a fishing village, it understands how contemporary Chinese designers reimagine domesticity by using cyclical temporality as a primary design tool, offering a perspective on architecture’s dialogue with time and space.