Stalinist classicism and national traditions in the university architecture of Northeastern China (1949–1970)

In the period 1949-1970, university architecture in Northeast China demonstrated cross-cultural practice based on the synthesis of Stalinist classicism and Chinese national traditions. This study focuses on the analysis of the facade composition, decorative language and spatial organization of the main buildings of the universities. The main focus is on the unique combination of decorative symbols, namely, through the study of the aesthetic, technical and symbolic interaction of Stalinist classicism and traditional Chinese elements, the study reveals how these buildings sought to balance aesthetic harmony and functional needs. As a result, relevant findings were obtained that can be used in modern approaches to the design of university architecture and the formation of functional spaces of campuses.