Archive for September, 2006
10 wonders of New China
September 19th, 2006 | 
Author: It’s a hotbed of innovative architecture, from diaphanous theaters to buildings heated and cooled by water
China‘s current building boom is doing more than sucking up the world’s supply of steel — it’s creating a stage for some of today’s boldest architecture and engineering. Take a tour of the 10 of the most intriguing examples.By Reena Jana
First phase completed 2002, expansion scheduled for completion in 2010
Photo: Ma Xiaochun
Even if the Commune didn’t sit beside that wonder of the ancient world, the Great Wall of China , it would still qualify as a wonder. The complex includes houses by 12 of Asia‘s leading architects. It was conceived by married real-estate developers Zhang Xin and Pan Shiyi, who gave each architect a $1 million budget. Shigeru Ban, the Japanese architect most famous for the paper houses he designed for refugees of the Kobe earthquake, designed the Furniture House, featuring the laminated plywood typically used for modular furniture, and China’s Yung Ho Chang created the Split House, which takes the idea of a boxy dwelling, slices it in half, and spreads it out like a fan.The Commune is now operated as a boutique hotel by the Germany luxury hotel group Kempinski, which is responsible for an upcoming expansion, which will feature 21 homes (including replications of the originals). One element will remain untouched in the new development: the Commune’s private pedestrian trails, which trace untouched sections of the Great Wall.
2. Beijing
Foster & Partners. Under construction, to be completed in late 2007
According to the U.S. Embassy to China, the country will be building 108 new airports between 2004 and 2009 — including what will be the world’s largest: the Beijing International Airport, designed by Foster & Partners. Set to open at the end of 2007, in time for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the airport terminal will cover more than 1 million square meters, giving it a bigger footprint than the Pentagon.It’s designed to handle 43 million passengers a year initially and 55 million by 2015, figures that will probably push the new facility into the ranks of the top 10 busiest airports, going by the 2004 numbers from the Airports Council International. Given the scale and traffic, Foster & Partners focused on the traveler’s experience, making sure that walking distances are short, for instance.
Building on Foster’s experience designing
Hong Kong ‘s new mega-airport, the massive Chek Lap Kok, the sprawling Beijing terminal is housed under a single roof. To help passengers distinguish between different sections of the vast space, skylights cast different shades of yellow and red light across walls — a subtle but innovative navigational aid. The architects also kept sustainability in mind: An environmental-control system reduces carbon emissions, and skylights situated on a south-east axis lessen solar heat, keeping the building cool.
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Beer garden
Beer Garden is a popular hangout for students and expats here in Beijing. It’s at the heart of Wodaokou district located right beside Tous Les Jou. With beer flowing at 4 RMB per mug, your pockets won’t feel thin even if you’re drunk! Fortunately, I can eat some yummy Yang roa chwar ( goat/sheep bbq) at 1 rmb a stick.
Alcohol..not available?
Streets of Beijing
I usually walk to school (BLCU) even though it’s 30 minutes away (ok…just 20 min. but my friends and I are a bunch of slowpokes). It’s dusty and I stay away from wearing sandals/flip flops that I love so my feet won’t have marks of dirt when I get home.
Ikea in Beijing
I’ve heard of Ikea when I was still back home. I knew about the one-of-a kind experience of creativity and design in Ikea…and now, I finally saw it here in Beijing!
Isshin Japanese Restaurant
Isshin Restaurant is one of the famous Japanese restaurants in Beijing. They have reasonably priced variety of Japanese cuisine, ambiance is quite cozy and mellow. We sat in the traditional Japanese style (took off our shoes and sat on the elevated floor).
You can visit either the branch in Xueyuan Lu,Haidan District (across East gate of BLCU) or in 35 Chengfu Lu north of the traffic light next to Wudaokou subway station Haidan District.