沙湾古镇-广州岭南建筑丨中国广州丨SHAWAN

岭南建筑风格特征

Lingnan-style architecture is a vernacular typology of the Cantonese area of Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces, and owes some of its characteristics to the warm and humid climate of southern China.Among its most peculiar features, we can admire:– large use of open structures like porches, archways and balconies, to allow natural ventilation– the use of cold alleys: narrow corridors, which can be indoor or outdoor, walled on both sides. The narrowness of the corridor increases the airflow, allowing a faster air exchange in the connected rooms, helping to vent out the hot air.– use of pale colors for the architectural and structural part, especially in temples and ancestral halls (differently from classical Chinese architecture, which loves bright colors like red or blue)

– the use of intricate geometric decorative motives, most of them using the red, white, and black colors.

– the use of colorful, highly intricate carving and statues, especially on temples and ancestral halls (but can also be seen on residential houses of wealthy families). The decorations often feature figures and scenes from Chinese mythology and Cantonese folktales. Also flowers, animals, and fruits can be used (all of them holding symbolic and auspicious meaning in Chinese culture) for dwelling types.