Abstracted into a Frame: Leaving Only the Proportion of the Opening

A contemporary abstract paifang. All traditional decorations are removed—no dougong, no roof, no carvings, no paintings—only the most basic framework remains: four vertical columns and two horizontal beams, forming three bays. However, the proportions are strictly preserved: the width ratio of the main bay to the side bays, the relationship between column height and bay width, and the distance between the upper and lower beams are all calculated according to traditional proportional systems. The material is dark gray fair-faced concrete or matte weathering steel, with minimalist cross-sections and sharp corners. Thus, it still reads as a paifang, relying entirely on proportion rather than symbolism. The background is a contemporary urban environment. Avoid: adding any traditional decorative symbols, disrupting traditional bay proportions, using color and traditional materials, or making it an ordinary door frame.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一座當代抽象化的牌樓。所有傳統的裝飾全部移除——沒有斗栱、沒有屋頂、沒有雕刻、沒有彩繪,只保留最基本的骨架:四根垂直的柱與兩道水平的橫樑,構成三個開間。但比例被嚴格地保留下來:明間與次間的寬度比、柱高與開間寬的關係、上下兩道橫樑之間的距離,全部依照傳統形制的比例推算。材料是深灰的清水混凝土或霧面的耐候鋼,斷面極簡,轉角銳利。因此它讀起來仍然是一座牌樓,靠的完全是比例而不是符號。背景是當代的都市環境。避免:加入任何傳統的裝飾符號、破壞傳統的開間比例、使用彩色與傳統材料、把它做成一般的門框。