Impacts on urban culture from modern christian architecture in Hangzhou: a case study of the former site of Young Men’s Christian Association of Hangzhou

Abstract

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Hangzhou, was used to be a place of communion established for secular life by Christian organization in Hangzhou. The original buildings of YMCA of Hangzhou are nowadays protected and maintained as historic buildings. This article has analyzed the historical background, the original function, the social impact of YMCA of Hangzhou, as well as the architectural style of the buildings. Three impacts that the buildings had affected urban and social modernization of Hangzhou are concluded as follows: 1.The buildings had promoted the spread of Christian culture, so that Christianity were cognized and accepted in Hangzhou; 2.The buildings had promoted the development of social activities, especially the continuous expansion of impact from non-profit social organizations; 3.The buildings had been a record of integration process of foreign culture and Chinese local culture during the period of modernization of Hangzhou, which had represented its period features and local characteristics