Localisation of Composite capital designs in modern Jiangsu, China, based on formal and social analysis

Abstract The evolution of architectural forms is a significant field of study in modern hybrids of Chinese and foreign architecture. It involves exploring the integration of foreign buildings and their constituent elements into traditional Chinese local culture. The Composite capital is a key component in Western architecture. Research indicates that from the 1920s to 1930s, Composite capital designs in foreign architectural structures within the Jiangsu region exhibited period-specific evolutionary characteristics and variations among different cities. Therefore, the localisation of Composite capitals in Jiangsu is a gradual process. This paper proposes a research methodology combining formal analysis and social analysis to investigate the localisation of Composite capitals in Jiangsu during the modern period. The study yields two main conclusions: (1) Within the same social environment, there are common patterns in the localisation of Composite capital designs among different historical periods, reflecting shared developmental trends influenced by local traditional culture. (2) Different cities in the Jiangsu region, characterised by distinct social environments, exhibit unique patterns in the localisation of Composite capital designs, reflecting regional diversity and providing more possibilities for localisation. This paper investigates the localisation of Composite capital designs in modern Jiangsu and explores the factors that influence the form and value of capital designs, providing a systematic reference for the study of regional architectural localisation in the modern period in China.