Retail architecture
Contentious buildings rattle netizens, please insiders
Before controversy over the "pants" building in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province even faded, the gymnasium and natatorium of the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province aroused public discourse again for its resemblance to a bikini top.
Recently, there seems to be a clash between newly constructed buildings and the public reaction in China. A quick online search shows a large collection of so-called "ugly" domestic buildings, all under public scrutiny. But insiders usually praise such architecture.
"People, particularly professionals and amateurs, often differ in their opinion about a building. There is a misunderstanding among the public. They are prone to judge architecture like a painting or sculpture while the owner of the building treats it like an advertisement," Zhang Yonghe, an architect and professor at MIT and Tongji University, told Global Times at a dialogue held by Stiftung Mercator on Sunday in Beijing's 798 Art Zone.
Bottom and top
The "pants" building in question is the Gate of the Orient, which lies along Jinji Lake in Suzhou and will be finished next year. The 301.8-meter-high 69-floor skyscraper is regarded as the biggest gate-shaped building in the world. In late August, the Gate of the Orient became infamous overnight, when a member of the project posted a picture of the building online.
Netizens posted that the shape of the building resembled a pair of pants. "Are you sure the building is not the Levi's headquarters in Asia-Pacific?" one netizen ridiculed. Some say the new headquarters of China Central Television in Beijing, jokingly referred to as "giant underpants," is no longer alone.
The Gate of the Orient was influenced by ancient city gates and the historical and iconic architecture in Suzhou, signifying its connection between modern and ancient times. The complex will reportedly include a hotel, office building, shopping mall and more. Despite this link, the public finds the building in violation of the city's cultural history dating back to over 2,000 years. Some say the building disregards Suzhou's local architecture.
Meanwhile, the new gymnasium and natatorium of the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Center is being dubbed the "bikini top," as it resembles a woman's swim top from an aerial view. "The pants in Suzhou and underpants in Beijing are both outdated," netizens joked.
Several days ago, a building in Shenyang, Liaoning Province rallied the public again with its resemblance to a pair of "gold underpants."
Function over style
"People judge a building from its shape because it has nothing to do with their daily life," said Zhang Yonghe. "If they live inside, they will judge it more based on its functions and comfort."
In 2008, when CCTV's new headquarters finished, it caused quite a stir over the proliferation of ugly buildings surfacing across China.
There are still varying opinions about CCTV's tower, which has already become a landmark in Beijing. David Gianotten, architect and executive president of OMA Asia, which designed CCTV's new headquarters, said on Sunday that such criticism is normal.
But these opinions should be objective and rational, based on respect and understanding, he said.
Many insiders believe that the rash criticism over buildings like CCTV's new headquarters and Suzhou's Gate of the Orient shows a public fickleness. Unfounded criticism hurts designers.
"It is not fair to treat a building like a work of fine art...or simply as an advertisement for owners," Zhang said. "A building is first of all for utility. People should consider this."
Gianotten also called for judging a building beyond aesthetic terms like "beautiful" or "ugly," subjective descriptions.
Cultural identity
However unfounded, public criticism reflects a general anxiety over city planning, with many fearing that urban planning is being used to pursue profit. Many of these buildings are thought of as failures in terms of both city planning and aesthetics. The Fangyuan Building in Shenyang and the "Fuyang White House," a government building in Fuyang, Anhui Province are prime examples.
Amidst rapid urbanization, there has been a competition to erect skyscrapers and iconic buildings.
For Zhang, it is not necessary to build iconic buildings, some of which are the result of politics or commercial profit. Local governments invite architects to design controversial buildings, as the buildings attract attention.
"If a city is not planned well, buildings are like a giant diamond ring adorned on the finger of someone wearing shabby clothing. Nothing changes in essence. Architects are sandwiched, with contained roles to play," Zhang said.
Zhang notices the lack of cultural identity in buildings across China and thus advocates integrating local culture with architecture, for the two to exist organically.
"Now modern buildings are similar [throughout the country], without showing regional characteristics," he said. "This [shows] a lack of confidence in the culture, worshipping a Western style."
Gianotten said that Chinese culture, undergoing rapid change, is complicated to track. "I encourage the Chinese to engage in dialogue with architects and developers, to contribute cultural input, which will eventually be received and translated in architecture."
"Architecture develops rapidly with efforts from domestic architects. Some efforts are successful and some fail. But generally, they move forward, he told the Global Times.