Principal’s message

    From 2010, the Art School of Peiking University as the previous existence of Peking University has set up Design Department for 82 years since 1928. Architecture discipline in Peking University has gone through a winding process of development. Today, with new situation and task requests, Peking University decided to establish the school of Landscape Architecture, hence to promote the development of Landscape Architecture. This is one of the most significant acts on discipline construction of Peking University in its progress of establishing first-class university in the world.

    Nowadays, China is at a great moment in history. The 30 years’ rapid development since the reform and opening-up has brought significant changes in all aspects in China, and its international influence and position has also been increasingly promoted. While we cheer about the augment in economy and development in urbanization, we should never neglect the severe problems of water and soil resources, ecological damage and the tension between human requirements and limited land resources, improvement of the quality of living environment for both urban and rural residents, which the world are confronting together today. It is an urgent request of this age and also the responsibility of universities to cultivate talented scholars who are able to analyse these complex issues, propose solving solution towards specific problems, and participate in related social practice.

    Peking University took the calls of society and nation as the driving force to establish the college of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Peking University has founded landscape planning and design research center in 1997, graduate center of architecture in 2000, and the graduate school of landscape architecture in 2003. These three organizations have received vigorous support from related departments since their establishments. All the faculty and students has made marvelous efforts and forge ahead to fulfil the requirements of the nation. The academic advantages of liberal arts and science in Peking University have also been utilized to explore a teaching and scientific research mode of cultivating advanced scholars with special talent of Peking University, and synchronize with the world. Abundant achievements in teaching and scientific research have been obtained, and rich experience of running a school has been accumulated by the staff in the last decade.

    Now I would like to give my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all the staff and students in the college of Architecture and Landscape Architecture who made these achievements. I sincerely hope that we could take the establishment of the school as an opportunity, and contribute more passion and effort to further construction and development of the school. Meanwhile, I wish that we could learn from other related schools and professions’ strong points and close the gap. And jointly we explore and create school running and talent cultivation modes consistent with innovation and development of China's architecture and landscape architecture education. Our efforts and contribution should be devoted to solving the environmental problems that encounters our nation and the whole world.

Principal of Peking University, Zhou Qifeng

2010.Oct.31st