USING DUTCH EXPERIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Beijing branch of a Sino-Dutch architecture firm, Next Architects, was in the news recently when its office in a former state printing plant was visited by Queen Maxima (Zorreguieta Cerruti) of the Netherlands.

The firm, operating from China and Europe since 1999, which focuses on sustainable urban development, has about 100 architects focused on architecture, interior design, landscaping and planning.

Jiang Xiaofei, the co-head of the Beijing office, says that China and the Netherlands face similar issues on sustainable urban development. And he describes the recent development of China as "transformative", citing the movement of half a billion of people from the countryside to cities within 30 years.