Photo courtesy Ole Scheeren Ole Scheeren, director of OMA's Beijing office, is leaving to start his own studio. Related Links: Fire-Ravaged TVCC Will Be Repaired CCTV Headquarters OMA-Designed MahaNakhon Tower Announced In early March, news broke that Ole Scheeren, director of OMA's Beijing office, is leaving to start his own studio. The 39-year-old architect also accepted a visiting professor position at Hong Kong University. "My collaboration with Rem Koolhaas and OMA has been an extraordinary experience... We have generated some remarkable projects both in East Asia and North America," he said in a statement. "The time has now come for
Correction appended May 13, 2009 A fire has charred part of an opera house designed by Zaha Hadid currently under construction in Guangzhou, China. It is the second major building blaze in the country this year. While the fire appears to have caused minimal structural damage, investigators are still trying to determine the extent of damage to the 753,000-square-foot, steel-and-concrete complex. There were no injuries or casualties, according to a spokesman for Zaha Hadid. Photo courtesy Architecture BBS A fire has charred part of an opera house designed by Zaha Hadid currently under construction in Guangzhou, China. Related Links: New
Architects Hope to Benefit from Stimulus Package Correction appended April 3, 2009 Despite hopes that the casino business would weather the economic storm, almost all building sites in Macao have gone quiet—a stark reminder that not even China is immune to the impact of a global recession. “We look at this crisis with shock and horror,” says Keith Griffiths, Asia and Middle East chairman of Aedas. The firm recently halted work on its projects on Macau’s formerly booming Cotai Strip, including the Four Seasons Hotel and new phases of The Venetian mega-casino. Like other foreign firms operating in China, Aedas—which
Amid the wreckage of China’s massive earthquake last May, the sight of collapsed school buildings served as a powerful symbol of the depth of the tragedy. As architects and engineers ponder how to improve rural building safety, a new program is bringing together local people, young architects, and experienced designers to build a set of new schools that offer more than just safe construction. Image courtesy ZL Architecture The Dangpu school features an outdoor assembly area. Related Links: U.S. Firm Helps China Rebuild After Deadly Quake “This is a big historical opportunity to reconsider many things, like what is the
For a 43,055-square-foot tourist entertainment center under construction in the famed Changbaishan mountain region in China, architect Xu Tiantian’s was at first less concerned about the buildings than where they sit—a patch of primeval woodland with a gorgeous mountain backdrop. “The beauty there is so overwhelming,” says the principal of Xu’s Beijing-based DnA_Design and Architecture. “So we decided that maybe the most convincing way to design this building was to have a dialog with nature.” Image courtesy DnA_Design and Architecture An 82-foot-high 'Info Tree' brings visitors to different platforms offering panoramic views of the mountains and forest. Instead of a
In a place like Beijing, where anything goes, designers often bring in art installations or bold flower arrangements to add verve to upscale interiors.
National Stadium lies beyond Beijing’s Fourth Ring Road, at the northern end of the imperial axis that cuts through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
Even in a city that’s defined by walls—those of the Forbidden City, old courtyard homes, and the Great one to the north—the new Beijing residence of the Dutch ambassador stands out.
