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Stopover in Beijing

The “egg," the "twisted doughnut," the “watercube,” the "bird's nest," and many other constuction sites are buzzing with workers to be ready for the 2008 Olympics.

Photo: Edwin Chan

Stopped in Beijing for a 4 day weekend to check out the building sites and plan our much longer visit in October.

Because it was our first time in China and time was short we decided to go for an eclectic program that would capture the atmosphere in Beijing. Besides architecture this included walking on Tiananmen Square, a visit to Hong Qiao, known as "Hard Bargain House" a place you can buy almost anything, eating on Wangfujing snack street, and dancing the last night in Beijing's hip Hou Hai Lake area.

We went from mega construction sites to the Great Wall and the Commune, with houses designed by 12 contemporary Asian architects, to I.M.Pei’s Fragrant Hill Hotel and, of course, the exciting new Art Districts, 798 and the Cao Changdi area.

First on our list was a visit to the OMA Asia office to meet Ole Scheeren, partner in charge, and tour the construction site of the 550,000 square meter headquarters for the Central Chinese Television CCTV.

Instead of competing in the race for ultimate height - the OMA project proposed an iconographic constellation of two highrise structures that actively engage the city space: CCTV and TVCC.
CCTV combines administration and offices, news and broadcasting, program production, and services the entire process of TV making - in a loop of interconnected activities.

Photo: arcspace

The two structures rise from a common production platform that is partly underground. Each has a different character: one is dedicated to broadcasting, the other to services, research and education; they join at the top to create a cantilevered penthouse for the management.

Photo: arcspace

The irregular grid on the building's facades is an expression of the forces traveling throughout its structure. Cecil Balmond and his team of Ove Arup & Partners are responsible for the structural and mechanical engineering.
We heard it called the “twisted doughnut”:):)
Read earlier arcspace feature.

PTW’s National Swimming Centre, known as the “Watercube,” is specifically designed to work in harmony with the circular main stadium, designed by Herzog and de Meuron.

Photo courtesy PTW

The “Watercube” concept is a simple and concise square form that ultimately uses the water bubble theory to create the structure and building cladding.
Read earlier arcspace feature.

Photo courtesy PTW

Herzog & de Meuron's National Stadium in Beijing, a 91,000 seat structure, resembles a “bird's nest” constructed of branches and twigs.
Each space within the stadium is constructed as an independent unit within the outer lattice making it possible to encase the entire complex with an open grid that allows for natural air circulation.

Photo: arcspace

Steven Holl’s Linked Hybrid, a “city within a city,” had reached the 14th floor when we were there. The Linked Hybrid, which will house 2,500 people in 700 apartments covering 1.6 million square feet, presents an ultra-modern expression of ecological, urban living and expresses a collective aspiration for a new type of 21st century space in the air. Focused on the experience of the passage of the body through its spaces, the organization of the towers takes movement, timing and sequence into consideration, creating a filmic urban space.
Read earlier arcspace feature.

Photo courtesy Steven Holl Architects

The nearly completed “SOHO Shang Du” development by Lab Architecture Studio consists of a low-rise commercial galleria with retail space, and two medium-rise towers.
The facetted glass surfaces of the tower facades are inscribed with a network of geometrical lines that light up at night.

Photo: arcspace

The retail five level galleria space can accommodate both “indoor” and “outdoor” activities depending on the extreme fluctuations of Beijing’s weather.
Read earlier arcspace feature.

Photo: arcspace

French architect Paul Andreu’s close to 500,000-square foot glass and titanium National Grand Theater is located near Tiananmen Square. The “egg” is placed half underground in an artificial lake to simulate a star-studded sky.

Photo: arcspace

The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has become a showcase of contemporary Chinese and Asian architecture. The setting is beautiful with each House framing dramatic views of the landscape and The Great Wall. A private pedestrian trail trace the untouched sections of the Great Wall.

Photo courtesy The Kempinski

Photo courtesy The Kempinski
A view of the wall from the clubhouse terrace.

The complex includes houses by 12 of Asia's leading architect; Gary Chang ( Hong Kong), Shigeru Ban (Japan), Cui Kai (China), Rocco Yim (Hong Kong), Chien Hsueh-Yi (Taiwan), Antonio Ochoa (China), Kengo Kuma (Japan), Kanika R’kul (Thailand), Kay Ngee Tan (Singapore), Nobuaki Furuya (Japan), Yung Ho Chang (China), Seung H-Sang (South Korea).

Photo: arcspace
“See” and be “Seen” by Cui Kai, China

Photo: arcspace
The Bamboo Wall by Kengo Kuma

Photo: arcspace
Interior of the Suitcase House by Gary Chang, China
Read earlier arcspace feature

The Commune is operated as a boutique hotel by the Kempinski group, who are responsible for an upcoming expansion, which will feature 21 homes, including replications of the originals.
The exhibited project model, made of wood and cardboard, has been collected by the Centre Pompidou, Paris, as its first permanent collection from China.
More in October.

Photo: arcspace

On the way back to Beijing we stopped by the Fragrant Hill Hotel designed by I.M.Pei. The hotel is situated in a public park within the former Imperial Hunting Grounds outside Beijing, not far from the Summer Palace and other key historic sites.

Photo: arcspace

Back in Beijing it was all about art. We went to 798 area and flipped over the 2 channel video installation by Kan Xuan at the Long March Space. Then to the Cao Changdi area and Galerie Urs Meile, designed by Ai Weiwei. The gallery provides a working area which also includes living space for artists in the same complex. Ai Weiwei is building several galleries and studios in the Cao Changdi area.

Photo: arcspace
2 Channel Video by Kan Xuan

Photo: arcspace
Galerie Urs Meile

If you are traveling to Beijing in 2008 you will be arriving in the new International Airport designed by Foster & Partners, who also designed Hong Kong's new airport. The world’s largest and most advanced airport building - not only technologically, but also in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and sustainability – Beijing Airport will be welcoming and uplifting. A symbol of place, its soaring aerodynamic roof and dragon-like form will celebrate the thrill of flight and evoke traditional Chinese colours and symbols.

Photo courtesy Foster & Partners

A lot more from China in October....

June 18, 2007





		kk Letter		Features
		Stopover in Beijing The “egg," the "twisted doughnut," the “watercube,” the "bird's nest," and many other constuction sites are buzzing with workers to be ready for the 2008 Olympics. Photo: Edwin Chan Stopped in Beijing for a 4 day weekend to check out the building sites and plan our much longer visit in October. Because it was our first time in China and time was short we decided to go for an eclectic program that would capture the atmosphere in Beijing. Besides architecture this included walking on Tiananmen Square, a visit to Hong Qiao, known as "Hard Bargain House" a place you can buy almost anything, eating on Wangfujing snack street, and dancing the last night in Beijing's hip Hou Hai Lake area. We went from mega construction sites to the Great Wall and the Commune, with houses designed by 12 contemporary Asian architects, to I.M.Pei’s Fragrant Hill Hotel and, of course, the exciting new Art Districts, 798 and the Cao Changdi area. First on our list was a visit to the OMA Asia office to meet Ole Scheeren, partner in charge, and tour the construction site of the 550,000 square meter headquarters for the Central Chinese Television CCTV. Instead of competing in the race for ultimate height - the OMA project proposed an iconographic constellation of two highrise structures that actively engage the city space: CCTV and TVCC. CCTV combines administration and offices, news and broadcasting, program production, and services the entire process of TV making - in a loop of interconnected activities. Photo: arcspace The two structures rise from a common production platform that is partly underground. Each has a different character: one is dedicated to broadcasting, the other to services, research and education; they join at the top to create a cantilevered penthouse for the management. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace The irregular grid on the building's facades is an expression of the forces traveling throughout its structure. Cecil Balmond and his team of Ove Arup & Partners are responsible for the structural and mechanical engineering. We heard it called the “twisted doughnut”:):) Read earlier arcspace feature. PTW’s National Swimming Centre, known as the “Watercube,” is specifically designed to work in harmony with the circular main stadium, designed by Herzog and de Meuron. Photo courtesy PTW The “Watercube” concept is a simple and concise square form that ultimately uses the water bubble theory to create the structure and building cladding. Read earlier arcspace feature. Photo courtesy PTW Herzog & de Meuron's National Stadium in Beijing, a 91,000 seat structure, resembles a “bird's nest” constructed of branches and twigs. Each space within the stadium is constructed as an independent unit within the outer lattice making it possible to encase the entire complex with an open grid that allows for natural air circulation. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Steven Holl’s Linked Hybrid, a “city within a city,” had reached the 14th floor when we were there. The Linked Hybrid, which will house 2,500 people in 700 apartments covering 1.6 million square feet, presents an ultra-modern expression of ecological, urban living and expresses a collective aspiration for a new type of 21st century space in the air. Focused on the experience of the passage of the body through its spaces, the organization of the towers takes movement, timing and sequence into consideration, creating a filmic urban space. Read earlier arcspace feature. Photo courtesy Steven Holl Architects The nearly completed “SOHO Shang Du” development by Lab Architecture Studio consists of a low-rise commercial galleria with retail space, and two medium-rise towers. The facetted glass surfaces of the tower facades are inscribed with a network of geometrical lines that light up at night. Photo: arcspace The retail five level galleria space can accommodate both “indoor” and “outdoor” activities depending on the extreme fluctuations of Beijing’s weather. Read earlier arcspace feature. Photo: arcspace French architect Paul Andreu’s close to 500,000-square foot glass and titanium National Grand Theater is located near Tiananmen Square. The “egg” is placed half underground in an artificial lake to simulate a star-studded sky. Photo: arcspace The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has become a showcase of contemporary Chinese and Asian architecture. The setting is beautiful with each House framing dramatic views of the landscape and The Great Wall. A private pedestrian trail trace the untouched sections of the Great Wall. Photo courtesy The Kempinski Photo courtesy The Kempinski A view of the wall from the clubhouse terrace. The complex includes houses by 12 of Asia's leading architect; Gary Chang ( Hong Kong), Shigeru Ban (Japan), Cui Kai (China), Rocco Yim (Hong Kong), Chien Hsueh-Yi (Taiwan), Antonio Ochoa (China), Kengo Kuma (Japan), Kanika R’kul (Thailand), Kay Ngee Tan (Singapore), Nobuaki Furuya (Japan), Yung Ho Chang (China), Seung H-Sang (South Korea). Photo: arcspace “See” and be “Seen” by Cui Kai, China Photo: arcspace The Bamboo Wall by Kengo Kuma Photo: arcspace Interior of the Suitcase House by Gary Chang, China Read earlier arcspace feature The Commune is operated as a boutique hotel by the Kempinski group, who are responsible for an upcoming expansion, which will feature 21 homes, including replications of the originals. The exhibited project model, made of wood and cardboard, has been collected by the Centre Pompidou, Paris, as its first permanent collection from China. More in October. Photo: arcspace On the way back to Beijing we stopped by the Fragrant Hill Hotel designed by I.M.Pei. The hotel is situated in a public park within the former Imperial Hunting Grounds outside Beijing, not far from the Summer Palace and other key historic sites. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Back in Beijing it was all about art. We went to 798 area and flipped over the 2 channel video installation by Kan Xuan at the Long March Space. Then to the Cao Changdi area and Galerie Urs Meile, designed by Ai Weiwei. The gallery provides a working area which also includes living space for artists in the same complex. Ai Weiwei is building several galleries and studios in the Cao Changdi area. Photo: arcspace 2 Channel Video by Kan Xuan Photo: arcspace Galerie Urs Meile If you are traveling to Beijing in 2008 you will be arriving in the new International Airport designed by Foster & Partners, who also designed Hong Kong's new airport. The world’s largest and most advanced airport building - not only technologically, but also in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and sustainability – Beijing Airport will be welcoming and uplifting. A symbol of place, its soaring aerodynamic roof and dragon-like form will celebrate the thrill of flight and evoke traditional Chinese colours and symbols. Photo courtesy Foster & Partners A lot more from China in October.... June 18, 2007