“THE taLL buiLdinGs in china TEND TO BE TALLER, AND THE SIZE OF THE BUILDINgS
tends to be LarGer. THERE IS ALSO A sense of extravaGance IN THE ARCHITECTURE”
Witold Rybczynski, Professor of Urbanism, School of Design, at the Wharton School in Pennsylvania, and architecture critic on Slate.com
scale. It has evolved to become a standard commercial developer,
kind of cultural architecture as cities who is usually much tougher and
vie with each other to produce more more practical.”
interesting structures. The result is a professional
“As these cities find themselves environment where architects must
in a competitive marketplace, so balance governmental regulations
they must compete for business. about things like seismic concerns
Before the nineties, all apartments with clients’ burgeoning sense
were state owned and limited of limitless possibility. It’s a heady
in supply; now they are privately atmosphere and remains very new
owned and the demand is being territory for everyone.
met. At the same time, local “There’s also a cultural aspect in
governments want their cities to the way we approach the work, an
stand out against the rest, while inherent symbolism that is essential
developers want to attract new to Chinese design,” says Jochman.
customers and new business. These “This can be a very direct, and
are the forces driving this process.” in some cases literal, symbolism
“The cities are trying to within the design. Very often, this
22 compete for the most outstanding works best when it’s on a number
and innovative kind of work, above: A bar-restaurant at the Quarry Hotel, Sonjiang, of different levels, with subtle
something to put them on the map
China, linked to the main building by covered walkway,
references to other aspects of the
and encircled by a bungee-jumping platform.
– and the developers are following culture and all very well integrated.
suit,” adds Martin Jochman, the This has to be quite sophisticated,
Atkins architect behind the visionary out: “Until the early nineties, they else,” points out Cheung. “The “As a consequence, there’s a with real substance to it and, in a
Quarry Hotel. “For marketing weren’t allowed to set up private country’s population is so huge sudden urgent need for things way, real poetry.
reasons, developers want to stand architecture firms. Now that they that even if only a tiny percentage like hotel accommodation because “This all means that, before you
out. They want unusual shapes and are able to do so, it has inspired a achieves millionaire status, that’s still it simply does not exist in a lot have even begun to design, there’s
ideas – the Quarry Hotel is an kind of development and design a lot of people.” of places. an emphasis on contextual analysis
example of this. It was an frenzy. Architects in China are also As the economy in China has “Add to this the fact that as well as cultural, historical and
opportunity to create something becoming more aware of global shifted from low-cost labour and many of the developers in China geographical research. You need to
that had never been done before. designs. Increasingly, architects high end manufacturing for foreign are doing this for the first time,” demonstrate that you have been
“It’s all part of the new are trying to draw on traditional clients to developing and designing he points out. “For example, through this process and that your
atmosphere in China: the projects forms and to see what they can its own brand of products and there are companies that have design relates to the local culture
are exciting and when it comes to do to combine them with global services for the world market, made money in other areas and and brings something specific to
creating an initial concept, there are influences and concepts.” income, savings and wealth have industries, and have acquired a the project, as well as that particular
very few limitations. Opportunities are grown. And with this new wealth land bank, or they have property client and location,” says Jochman.
everywhere. Most of the larger cities middle class in the comes an ever greater demand that needs redevelopment. They “Quite simply, there’s a huge
are going through major rebuilding middle Kingdom for things to spend it on – hotels, find an architect to design for difference between the type of
programmes, from the business The rising middle class in China is holidays, cars, housing and so on them, but they don’t have any work we might do in the UK, for
districts to masterplanning and major perhaps the biggest influence in – as well as the desire to attract preconceived notions about what example, and the work we do in
hotels. Cities are in competition with the country’s ongoing architectural even more growth. they should be doing. They come China,” he adds. “The scale of the
each other to create better and more evolution. “It goes without saying “A lot of cities in China are still to things with a very fresh mind. work and initial freedom within
impressive landmarks.” that soon enough there will be developing,” says Rice. “They’re Quite a few of these developers any concept, even the process
Architects themselves have more millionaires by international still catching up with the rest of the are fairly young and they have a of generating a concept – it’s
also changed, Hongxing points standards in China than anywhere country, if not the world. very different agenda than your completely different.”
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