Daring architecture or giant monstrosities? Ridiculous buildings that are popping up all over China (and yes, that does look like a...)
By
Leon Watson
PUBLISHED:
21:41 GMT, 6 May 2013
|
UPDATED:
11:47 GMT, 7 May 2013
Some of these spectacular buildings epitomise the
daring architecture we have come to expect from the nation that gave us
the magnificent Bird's Nest stadium.
But others have provoked roars of laughter and been lampooned the world over.
Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of modern Chinese architecture.
As the vast country's building boom continues, huge and ever-more fascinating superstructures have been piercing the skylines.
From giant behemoths that look like long johns to one in the shape of a giant traditional Chinese coin, not all have gained critical approval.
In a survey by Chinese architectural firm, Archcy, online voters ranked Pangu Plaza, used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as one of the ugliest buildings in the People's Republic.
A particularly garish building
in the northeastern city of Fushun made with over 3,000 tons of steel
and decorated with 12,000 LED lights was also chosen.
As was the Beijing Tianzi Hotel which was ranked China's ugliest building for 2012. It is fronted by three men depicting Chinese gods and symbols of prosperity, happiness, and career achievement.
Then there's the Shanghai LV Building, which looks like a giant boot.
Most unfortunate of all is perhaps the new Beijing headquarters of the People's Daily newspaper in Beijing.
There have also been numerous other examples of massive building projects that have attracted more admirers that detractors.
For example there's Beijing's new Phoenix International Media Centre which has a distinct, caved-in hollow, almost like a giant Yorkshire pudding.
With its sweeping metallic curves and shimmering glass exteriors, it is scheduled to open this year.
The 55-metre tall building created by the
Beijing Institute of Architectural Design will boast 65,000 square
metres of floor space for offices, restaurants and the headquarters of
China's Phoenix TV.
And while it may look like a giant bean bag, or even a doughnut, the critics have been more welcoming of this building.
Its sleek, spiralling design 'boldly expresses its intentions to move away from tradition toward the open ideals of the future,' says the website of China Radio International.
Then there's perhaps the most famous modern Chinese building of them all, the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.
It was used to spectacular effect for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
A thundering display of fireworks exploded over the stadium in the shape of a blossoming red flower as China put the full glory of its rich history on display to the world.
Some 91,000 people, many waving Chinese flags, packed into the National Stadium on a hot and humid night for a spectacular show masterminded by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zhang Yimou.
In Lingshui County in the Hainan Province on an island off southern China, more than 1,000 grey houses, each spaced just a few feet apart, have been built.
Stretching as far as the eye can see in rows upon rows of arrow-straight uniformity, this development conjures images of a concrete slum or a prison block rather than a plush new housing estate.
But others have provoked roars of laughter and been lampooned the world over.
Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of modern Chinese architecture.
The Beijing Tianzi Hotel was ranked China's
ugliest building for 2012. The three men depict Chinese gods and symbols
of prosperity, happiness, and career achievement
Ring of life: This building in the northeastern
city of Fushun is made with over 3,000 tons of steel and decorated with
12,000 LED lights
Bold design: Beijing's new Phoenix International Media Centre has a distinct, caved-in hollow
From giant behemoths that look like long johns to one in the shape of a giant traditional Chinese coin, not all have gained critical approval.
In a survey by Chinese architectural firm, Archcy, online voters ranked Pangu Plaza, used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as one of the ugliest buildings in the People's Republic.
More...
As was the Beijing Tianzi Hotel which was ranked China's ugliest building for 2012. It is fronted by three men depicting Chinese gods and symbols of prosperity, happiness, and career achievement.
Then there's the Shanghai LV Building, which looks like a giant boot.
Most unfortunate of all is perhaps the new Beijing headquarters of the People's Daily newspaper in Beijing.
A building in the shape of a giant traditional
Chinese coin in northeastern China was also chosen as one of the world's
ugliest buildings last year
Online voters ranked Pangu Plaza, used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as one of the ugliest buildings in China last year
Underwear despair: The £445m Gate of the East in Suzhou, China, has been likened to a pair of long johns
Tough sell: According to the designer's website,
the arch 'introduces a dramatic iconic "gateway" to the city of Suzhou
and represents the significance of the China in the world today'
Object of ridicule: The new Beijing headquarters of the People's Daily newspaper in Beijing, China
The construction, with its phallic-like
connotation, has become an object of ridicule among Chinese citizens.
The People's Daily is the official mouthpiece of the Chinese ruling
party
There have also been numerous other examples of massive building projects that have attracted more admirers that detractors.
For example there's Beijing's new Phoenix International Media Centre which has a distinct, caved-in hollow, almost like a giant Yorkshire pudding.
With its sweeping metallic curves and shimmering glass exteriors, it is scheduled to open this year.
Not pretty: The Guiyang Science and Technology building in Guizhou
The Linked Hybrid buildings in the capital Beijing stand out a mile
Spectacular: Fireworks explode next to the
National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during the opening
ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China
And while it may look like a giant bean bag, or even a doughnut, the critics have been more welcoming of this building.
Its sleek, spiralling design 'boldly expresses its intentions to move away from tradition toward the open ideals of the future,' says the website of China Radio International.
Then there's perhaps the most famous modern Chinese building of them all, the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.
It was used to spectacular effect for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
A thundering display of fireworks exploded over the stadium in the shape of a blossoming red flower as China put the full glory of its rich history on display to the world.
Some 91,000 people, many waving Chinese flags, packed into the National Stadium on a hot and humid night for a spectacular show masterminded by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zhang Yimou.
In Lingshui County in the Hainan Province on an island off southern China, more than 1,000 grey houses, each spaced just a few feet apart, have been built.
Stretching as far as the eye can see in rows upon rows of arrow-straight uniformity, this development conjures images of a concrete slum or a prison block rather than a plush new housing estate.
Grey matter: Rows upon rows of villas stretch
for as far as the eye can see at the new Dadun Village development in
Lingshui, Hainan Province of China
They're consistent at least: Around 3,500
villagers have started to move into 1,029 new villas, each of which
measures 253 square metres
AcermurPcangi_North Las Vegas Antonio Rodriguez https://wakelet.com/wake/agQ3aiIjVo6_fMYCms9aW
ReplyDeletegnuttanecheal
Ycyafracprop_bo-1995 Angela Jiang McAfee Internet Security
ReplyDeleteMicrosoft Office
CCleaner pro
wheelnoughpulvi