Research Fields

• History and Theory of Western Architecture, Modern Chinese Architectural History, Architecture Criticism

Research Profile

• WANG Kai received his doctoral degree in Architectural History and Theory at Tongji University in 2010 with a dissertation on The Emergence of Modern Chinese Architectural Discourse (1870-1937). He is an architectural historian whose research focuses on intersections of architecture history, theory and design. The courses he is teaching range from history and theory of western architecture, architecture criticism to architecture design studios.

• His recent research interests focus on the history and theory of early modern architecture in China and Europe, as well as the historical evolution of architectural discourse. He is currently doing a research on the history of concepts in 20th century’s Chinese Architecture, in which methods of conceptual history and quantitative historical studies are introduced and to be utilized.

Current Courses

• History and Theory of Architecture II (for bachelor students, since 2012)

• Architecture Criticism (for bachelor and graduate students, since 2010)

• Basic Architecture Design Studio(for 2nd year bachelor students, since 2010)

• An introductory Course on Contemporary Chinese Architecture Studies (English Seminar for graduate students, since 2013)

Grands and Awards

• Feng Jizhong Annual Teaching Award, Tongji University,2014

• Distinguished Young Teaching Scholar Grant, Tongji University, 2012-2014.

• Best PhD Dissertation Award of All Shanghai, 2012.

• Grant for Promising Young Researchers Under the age of 33, Tongji University, 2010-2012.

Publications

Books:

1. Wang, Kai. The Emergence of Modern Architecture Discourse. Beijing: Chinese Architecture and Engineering Press, April 2015

Articles & book chapters:

1. Wang, Kai and Ying Wang. “Conceptual Mapping and Four Genealogies: Evolving Discourses in Chinese Architectural Media of the 20th Century.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai), 6 (November 2014): 28-33

2. Wang, Kai.  “The Emergence of Jianzhu (Architecture) in Early Modern Chinese Architecture Media: A Conceptual History.” Journal of Architecture (Beijing), 9 (Sep-Oct 2014) :161-165.

3. Wang, Kai.  “History and Theory Course as Training of Thinking: Notes on the Curriculum Reform of Architecture History and Theory.” The Architect (Beijing) 169, 3 (June 2014): 28-35.

4. Wang, Kai.  “A Memoire on Glenn’ s Australia: Notes on in-situ Teaching Experience in Dunns Swamp.” The Architect (Beijing) 169, 3 (June 2014): 42-51

5. Wang, Kai. “The Establishment of Professionalism in Early 20th Century Chinese Architecture Media.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai), 3 (May 2014): 142-146

6. Wang, Kai. “Between Words and Buildings: Public Media and Modern Chinese Architects in Early 20th Century.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai), 2 (Mar 2014): 142-147

7. Wang, Kai. “Glenn Murcutt in Tongji: A Sidelight on the 2002 Pritzker Laureate Australian Architect Glenn Murcutt’s Visit.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai), 2 (Mar 2014): 160-163

8. Wang, Kai, Zeng Qiaoqiao and Wu Qing. “The Decade of Three Generations: A Retrospect and Diagrammatic Analysis of Architecture Discourse in Professional Periodicals since 2000.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai), 1 (Jan 2014): 160-165

9. Wang, Kai. “Making in-between Theory and Design: Installation as Instrument of Teaching Architectural History and Theory Course.” In Proceedings of 2013 National Conference on Architectural Education, Beijing: Press of Tsinghua University, 2013.

10. Wang, Kai. “The Starting Point When the East Meets the West: Vitruvius’ De Architectura in Late Ming Dynasty.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai) 128, 3 (May 2012): 52-56.

11. Wang, Kai. “From Literature to Technological Enlightenment: A Survey on later Qing missionary periodicals in China.” In Study and Preservation of Chinese Modern Architecture (VIII), ed. Zhang Fuhe. Beijing: Press of Tsinghua University, 2012.

12. Wang, Kai. “Nomenclature and Disciplinarily: Building a new Discipline within new Architecture Terminology.” In Architecture History and Theory XI (Special Issue)(Nov 2011) : 46-49

13. Wang, Ying and Kai Wang. “Gestures, Perspectives and Positions: Notes on 10 years’ Oversea Reportage and Studies on Contemporary Chinese Architecture and Urbanism.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai) 114, 4 (Aug 2010): 152-153.

14. Wang, Kai and Ying Wang. “Translation as a Trans-lingual Practice.” The Architect (Beijing) 131, (Feb 2009): 38-42.

15. Wang, Kai. “On the Transition of Chinese Architecture Critical Discourse: Rem Koolhaas in contemporary Chinese Media.” New Architecture (Wuhan), (June 2008): 61-65.

16. Wang, Kai. “Hygiene in Early Modern Architecture Discourse (1890-1937): John Fryer, Juzhai Weisheng Lun and Hygienic Discourse.” In Study and Preservation of Chinese Modern Architecture (VI), ed. Zhang Fuhe. Beijing: Press of Tsinghua University, 2008.

17. Wang, Ying and Kai Wang,  “Teaching History of Western Architecture in Cross-cultural Perspective.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai) 99, 1 (Jan 2008): 152-153.

18. Wang, Kai. “What is Postmodernism in Chinese Architecture?” Mid-China Architecture (Wuhan), (Dec 2006): 3-4.

19. Fung, Stan and Kai Wang. “Notes on the Prospects of Cross-cultural Dialogue in Chinese Architecture.” Time + Architecture (Shanghai) 90, 5 (Oct 2006): 24-29.

Recent conference engagements:

1. Wang, Ying and Kai Wang. “Content, Form and Class Nature of Architecture in 1950s China.” European Architectural History Network Third International Meeting, Turin, June 2014.

2. Wang, Kai. “Installation as an Instrument in Teaching Architecture History and Theory Course.” The 5th International Symposium of the Teaching and Research of World Architecture History, Chongqing, Nov 2013.

3. Wang, Kai. “From Literature to Technological Enlightenment: A Survey on Later Qing Missionary Periodicals in China.” International Conference on the Study and Preservation of Chinese Modern Architecture, Jinmen, July 2012.

4. Wang, Kai. “Nomenclature and Disciplinarily:  Building a New Discipline Within New Architecture Terminology.” The 6th Annual Meeting of the Society of Chinese Architecture Studies, Lanzhou, Oct 2011.

5. Wang, Kai. “The Establishment of Professionalism in Architecture.” The symposium on Formation and Development of Academic Disciplines in China, Hong Kong, July 2009.

6. Wang, Kai. “Weisheng and Architecture: Hygenic discourse in Late Qing Periodicals and Emergence of Modern Architectural Notions.” The symposium on Formation and Development of Academic Disciplines in China, Beijing, Nov 2008.

7. Wang, Kai and Ying Wang. “Translation as a Trans-lingual Practice.” The 2nd International symposium of the Teaching and Research of World Architecture History, Shanghai, Nov 2007.