During a literary symposium in Beijing last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping read a two-hour speech addressing Chinese architects and artists who have contributed to China’s sizable stock of avant-garde structures.
Architects, along with authors, actors, script writers, and dancers, were urged by the president to not pursue commercial success at the expense of producing work with artistic and moral value, national news agency Xinhua reports. For architects specifically, the president encouraged them not to “engage in weird building.”
In his speech, Jinping said that art should “be like sunshine from the blue sky and the breeze in spring that will inspire minds, warm hearts, cultivate taste, and clean up undesirable work styles.”
He also reminisced how art and literature during his childhood—a period when China was going through the so-called Cultural Revolution—was more respectful to history.
Many news agencies, both Chinese and International, interpreted the president’s speech as a call to more patriotic, socialist, and nationalistic art closer to traditional Chinese aesthetics.
Hong Kong-based news agency Wen Wei Po says it means China won’t have any more da kuzi (“big pants”) in the future, the nickname Chinese Web denizens used for Rem Koolhas’ CCTV building in Beijing.
The Guangzhou Circle. Wikimedia Commons/Amprogetti
The CCTV Building in Beijing has been nicknamed "Big Pants." Wikimedia Commons/Verdgris
Related Stories
| Aug 19, 2011
Underfloor air distribution, how to get the details right
Our experts provide solid advice on the correct way to design and construct underfloor air distribution systems, to yield significant energy savings.
| Aug 19, 2011
Enhanced acoustical design
Ambient noise levels in some facility types are trending up and becoming a barrier to clear communication between building occupants.
| Jul 22, 2011
The Right Platform for IPD
Workstations for successful integrated project delivery, a white paper by Dell and BD+C.
| Jul 22, 2011
High-performance windows and doors
Learning objectives After reading this article, you should be able to: Understand issues of thermal performance and energy efficiency in relation to window and door systems; describe optimal detailing of the window-wall interface and how it contributes to building performance, sustainability, and occupant well-being; understand how durability contributes to sustainable windows/doors; and list sustainable O&M requirements for window and door systems.
| Jul 21, 2011
Falling Architecture Billings Index reflects decrease in design demands
This months Architecture Billings Index (ABI), provided by the American Institute of Architects, is almost a full point lower than last month’s reported score. June’s reading of 47.2 was short of the required 50 to achieve billings increases, making July’s reading of 46.3 an unwelcome sign of market tidings.
| Jun 29, 2011
New leadership role for architects in net-zero design
BD+C Editorial Director Rob Cassidy talks with RNL Design's Tom Hootman, AIA, about the changing role of architects in net-zero designs.
