A building
under construction stands in the backdrop of traditional Chinese
architecture in Beijing. |
The country's
thriving urbanization, which began in the 1990s, has brought delight to
Chinese-American architect and businessman James Jao in his quest to fulfill
what he sees as his mission in China.
Day in and day out, Jao is busy shuffling between cities, seeking to realize
his dream of creating a unique architectural style that combines features of
both Western and Eastern design.
"Chinese clients, developers and city officials are too eager to build these
days," said Jao. "But the golden rule in design is that good dishes require a
longer cooking time."
China gave the world the Great Wall, flying eaves, screens and other
architectural innovations. Yet that was centuries ago.
At this time, Chinese developers and clients are more drawn to Western than
to traditional Chinese architectural styles, preferring to climb on board
current international trends.
Jao says that for some of his clients Chinese style seems to carry the stigma
of the past - a past that they seem not very proud of.
"We, as American-trained architects in China, are trying to fuse the two
styles as much as possible - with a Western look on the outside but a Chinese
feel to the interior decoration," said Jao, whose company has been involved in
many garden, office and residential projects in China over the past 10 years.
He boasted his home in Beijing is a perfect example, as it has all the
amenities and conveniences of Western architecture design, but incorporates many
Chinese antiques and paintings in its interior decoration.
As Jao and many industry insiders point out, China is the only place in the
world where talented architects have the opportunity to experiment with their
design ideas because of the booming economy and real estate market.
The
88-storey Jin Mao Building has become a new icon for Shanghai's pudong
area. |
About 40 per cent of the nation's
1.3 billion people live in 660 cities and around 20,000 towns, and the
government has decided to increase urbanization at the rate of 1 per cent
annually.
In the wake of the 1990s building boom, nearly all the cities of the country
are once again in a state of architectural ferment. Many big cities, including
Beijing, plan to become major world metropolises in the future. Late last year,
Yao Bing, a senior official with the Ministry of Construction said that up to
182 of the country's 660 cities have claimed they are planning to build
themselves into "international metropolises," or "cosmopolises."
Even smaller cities have expressed their ambition to join the big leagues,
such as Fuyang, in East China's Anhui Province, which has dreams of overtaking
the provincial capital of Hefei and catching up with Shanghai.
Regardless of whether it is possible to have so many Parises, Londons or New
York cities in China, such ambitions are bringing about opportunities.
Governments and developers are tearing down old-fashioned buildings and going
for the concrete blocks and chrome and glass towers that herald cities' embrace
of modernization.
So, for some of the world's top architects, the country offers incomparable
opportunities. Topping the roster of architectural stars who are drumming up
business in China are fabled Western architecture firms like the famous Pei
family, which designed the Bank of China's new Beijing headquarters. Renowned
French designer Paul Anderu created Beijing's new National Grand Theatre, which
is now taking shape on the western side of Tian'anmen Square next to the Great
Hall of the People.
Then there are the huge firms. Skidmore Owens & Merrill, which
practically invented the skyscraper, branding skylines around the world with its
distinctive towers for several decades, has done a repeat in Shanghai's Pudong
Area, with China's tallest building, the US$540-million, 88-storey Jin Mao
Building.
"China is like a fresh source of vitality," 66-year-old German Meinhard von
Gerkan once said. The German architect's concepts for planned communities are
under consideration by the officials of several Chinese cities. "Europe is all
finished," he says. "Here you have the freedom to build."
Architecture shapes the appearance of a nation's cities and its international
image.
During the past two decades of rapid economic growth, many problems have
arisen in China's urban expansion and renovation. A large number of high-cost
and tasteless buildings have punctuated the skylines of many cities.
Zhang Zugang, president of the Architectural Society of China, mourned the
disappearance of some historical buildings in Beijing and expressed concern over
some of the new high-rises in the ancient capital.
"But new cities all look the same. Their original ancient feel has been
destroyed. Traditional architectural styles are ignored," Zhang said.
He said the authorities should learn from other countries to avoid repeating
their mistakes. He urged greater attention to urban planning, protecting the
city's cultural traditions, including the colour of the buildings.
"We must not allow the developers to do what they want, filling our cities
with gaudy edifices," Zhang said.
Zhang's call has been echoed by other experts and architects, who are
concerned about the increasing inflow of Western ideas in architectural design.
"The construction mania has left thousands of nondescript modern buildings
all over the country, which detract from or even destroy historical sites and
original city layouts," said Zhu Bingren, a traditional brass sculptor from East
China's Hangzhou, a city famed for its picturesque West Lake.
Zhu hopes to initiate a nationwide drive to be called the "New Culture
Heritage Campaign" to promote traditional architecture.
"Some cities blindly pursue foreign-style buildings while others are obsessed
with imitating ancient Chinese architecture only to attract tourists. Both
tendencies are fraught with dangers," said Zhu.
Zhu believes that responsible planners should design structures that embody
both genuine local features and a modern spirit, and should not rush blindly
into the real estate race.
"It's our responsibility to leave something which will be treasured and
regarded as a legacy to be proud of by future generations."
James Jao said that good style and good taste will take time to develop, and
emphasized that patience and the education of clients are essential.
"I. M. Pei always told me to choose my clients more carefully than my
projects, as there will be many changes during the construction process."
Jao says there are more sophisticated clients in China now than before, but
he still thinks the architectural design industry in China is short on talent
and taste.
Jao agrees with Zhu's push to preserve traditional Chinese architecture but
emphasizes that one must first define the essence of traditional design before
deciding what should be preserved.
"Unlike American and European culture, Chinese culture has a very long and
mixed history and it will be a complicated and demanding task to set
architectural priorities that will ensure the preservation of designs elements
that embody the best values of the culture," said Jao.
Jao said in the United States anything over 35 years is considered worth
preserving. "We must define what is worthy of preservation and what is not.
Otherwise, we may blindly block modern development."
As China is evolving rapidly, more excellent design projects such as the new
CCTV building design and the Beijing Olympic Stadium should be encouraged.
"There are still too many developers who don't understand that time and money
must be spent if you are going to develop a good design concept," said Jao.
Ma Guoxin, chief architect with the Beijing Architectural Design Institute,
seems more optimistic. He believes there is no cause to fear that Chinese
aesthetics will be crowded out in the rush to modernize.
"The foreign 'invasion' will help domestic architects and planners learn new
techniques, leading to cross-fertilization and, ultimately, the emergence of a
modern Chinese architectural style," Ma said.
"With the help of traditional Chinese disciplines - such as the relationship
between man and nature - we can turn Western concepts into something uniquely
Chinese."
Jao said Ma's insights help explain the prosperity of his (Jao) business in
this country full of opportunities.
