Contemporary Architecture in China

Dr. Soumitri Varadarajan http://soumitri.com.au Associate Professor, Industrial Design Program, School of Design, RMIT University.

Education 1998 - 2003 1991 1982 - 1985 1977 - 1982

PhD, IIT Delhi, India.

Design Trainee, Hitachi Design Studios, Japan.

Industrial Design (Masters), NID, India.

BE (Mech.), Mysore University, India.

Guest Professor, Foshan University (PRC) Senior Lecturer (Hon), Austin Health, Melbourne.

Principal, Studio Soumitri, Melbourne.

Technical Advisor (Hon), Barefoot College, Tilonia, India,

Who is Zhang Xin? Contemporary Architecture in China Soumitri Varadarajan, SPA-New Delhi, 2018

Actors • The Client • The Construction Company & • The Architect

Yu Tao, CEO, China State Construction Engineering Corporation

“open air museum of architectural superlatives�

Wang Shu & Lu Wenyu

Wapan Technique Ningbo History Museum

Zhu Pei

OCT Design Museum

Digital Beijing

Arata Isozaki Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing

Kengo Kuma

Frameworks

Appreciation • Architect • Work • Genre • Context

Architect • Starchitect • Asian/ Japanese • Chinese

The Chinese Architect • Emplacement • Practice • Local Discourse • Western Educated

Liyuan Library by Li Xiaodong

Taste & Consumption • The Wealthy • The State • The City • Public and Social Projects

Context: Industry Framework • Technology • Management • Culture

"Chinese architecture will benefit" from CCTV building, says Rem Koolhaas “I was aware of negative developments there, of course,” Mr. Koolhaas said. “But on the whole there was also an incredible sense of change at that moment. There was a real desire to improve things, especially in Beijing.”

My December in 2018 I am Teaching in Foshan, Guangdong Province

Changsha Meixihu International Culture and Art Center – Changsha Currently under development, and another design by Zaha Hadid

Galaxy SOHO – Beijing Located in Beijing, this futuristic, and massive complex has opened with a mix of office space and retail shopping and leisure.

Ring of Life – Fushun, China A 157 m landmark built in the Shenfu New Town near Fushun of Liaoning province features over 12,000 LED’s and was designed by Gary Goddard.

Rainbow Gate – Tongzhou New City Another new development taking place in a satellite city of Beijing

Atlantis Sanya – Sanya, Hainan Hainan is being shaped to become the new “Hawaii” and the newly opened Atlantis Hotel and theme park resort shows there is no lack of investment to see that goal become a reality.

Phoenix Island Resort – Sanya, Hainan Located on an artificial island that serves as a resort and cruise center port.

Beauty Crown Tree Mansion – Sanya, Hainan A hotel and residential complex in Sanya Hainan.

Teapot building, Wuxi An information building based on the clay teapots that this area is famous for.

Lotus building, Wujin A civic building located in parkland that represents the stages of a lotus flower.

Sheraton Hotel, Huzhou Sheraton Moon Hotel is located lakeside in Huzhou, near Shanghai.

Guangzhou Circle, Guangzhou Guangzhou Circle is a landmark building located in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. It is the headquarters of the Hongda Xingye Group and the new home of Guangdong Plastic Exchange (GDPE).

NetDragon Headquarters – Changle, Fujian A replica of the famous Star Trek Enterprise as office, now that’s kinda cool.

The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou, Jiangsu A landmark of the city and commercial building.

Wangjing SOHO – Beijing Office and retail center in Beijing, another design by Zaha Hadid.

Fangyuan Mansion – Shenyang, Liaoning A government building that looks to be modeled off an ancient Chinese coin, the designer claims it represents the merger of a square and a circle representing the depth of the culture in the city.

Sunrise Kempinski Hotel – Huairou District, Beijing A lakeside luxury 5 Star hotel set amongst mountains featuring seven restaurants, bars, and private spa.

Morpheus Hotel – Macau Locate in the City of Dreams complex in Macau.

Phoenix International Media Center – Beijing Headquarters for China’s largest private broadcaster.

CCTV Tower – Beijing Headquarters for the state-owned broadcaster, CCTV.

People’s Daily Headquarters – Beijing Headquarters for the countries main state-owned newspaper.

Chaoyang Park Plaza – Beijing Residential, office and retail. Designed by Ma Yansong aiming to incorporate his vision of “Shanshui” a blending of nature and Chinese tradition into modern architecture (my own words) yet looks more like Gotham City to me. Regardless, it’s still cool.

Ordos Art & City Museum Ordos in Mongolia is a story in itself, urban planners created a new city from nothing and it’s at the cutting edge of attentiongrabbing architecture, yet, slow to gain new residents with many labeling it a ghost town. Surprisingly, it’s slowing growing population is changing that.

The Piano House, Anhui Built to a 50:1 scale and functioning as a showroom of its own development its a popular place for romantics.

Raffles City – Chongqing Set to open this year, Raffles City has a prime location by the river in a city that has been described as becoming the new Shanghai.

“Fake Hills” – Behai A residential complex, with a difference.

Harbin Cultural Center – Harbin Recently opened cultural center and opera house.

Xinhee Design Center – Xiamen Headquarters for the international fashion group, Xinhee. Currently under construction.

Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center – Nanjing A residential mega-complex featuring a big focus on public space including brooks, ponds, and waterfalls. This is also from MAD architects once again employing their “shanshui concept”, and it’s impressive. Due to be completed this year.

New Century Arts Center – Chengdu Located in the Tianfu New Area of Chengdu next to the New Century Global Center, a massive retail shopping and leisure center that stakes the claim as the largest building in terms of floor area in the world, the New Century Arts Center is nearing completion.