The emergence of China on the global economic stage has been discussed at nauseum in myriad publications. But this emergence has had an impact on the world of architecture, providing a testing ground where architects can experiment with new ideas about sustainability and urban growth. These new ideas have been realized in recently completed structures, and more are just beginning construction or have been proposed for the future. More on these new buildings after the break.
Many of the recently completed projects in China attempt to test the limits of what modern steel and concrete structures can support. The most iconic, and most unsettlingly off-balance, of these is the CCTV building in Beijing designed by OMA. As OMA described it, the building is meant to be a “single loop of interconnected activity” that will allow for new and beneficial interaction between employees. This loop is achieved by a “seemingly impossible cantilever,” making the building appear as though it is about to fall forward.
