Author(s)

ZEYANG YU

Abstract

This paper attempts to discover the changes of tropical residential buildings in the pacific-rim region under the globalization, to find the emerging trends which this kind of building can follow. The trends can be identified through case studies in China, Costa Rica and Australia by comparing the traditional and modern tropical residential buildings and analysing the authenticity of them. The emerging trends include the relationship with the natural environment, the local identity and personal experience. The paper consists of three parts. The first and second part analyses the characteristics of traditional and modern tropical residential buildings. The third part compares these characteristics, thus summarizing the changes and identifying which parts can be represented as trends.

Keywords

tradition, modernity, tropical architecture, globalization, emerging trends