Shigiao Li and Esther Lorenz:

Typological Drift:

Emerging Cities in China

Introduction

Conventional urban theories, largely grounded in Western experiences, tend to emphasize rational planning and evolutionary logic in their attempts to articulate universal laws of urban development. However, when applied to the Chinese context, such frameworks fall short of adequately addressing the complex process of urban development in China. Over the past four decades, Chinese culture has acted as a set of “unexpected events” that have significantly altered the normative processes of urban change. This lecture will introduce the concept of “drift,” drawing a parallel with one of the four fundamental patterns of biological change—mutation, adaptation, migration, and drift. It will end up with a reflection on the state of China’s architectural profession which is deployed as the frontline of China’s urbanization.