Guidelines on urban planning issued earlier this year forbid the construction of “bizarre” and “odd-shaped” buildings that are devoid of character or cultural heritage. On the Block is a monthly series where we gather opinions on some of the unusual architecture that remains, from both an architectural and civilian viewpoint.
Pangu Plaza, North Fourth Ring Road
The Building
Bordering the North Fourth Ring Road, Pangu Plaza is made up of five adjacent towers connected lengthways through their respective third floors. The plaza encompasses offices, residential housing and a ‘7-star’ hotel. The top of the first (and, at 191 meters, the tallest) building is supposed to resemble a dragon’s head, with the other structures forming the rest of the ‘body.’ Designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, the ‘Dragon Plaza’ was built around the time of the Olympics – and within sight of the Olympic Park. As such, its quirky shape is often mistaken for an Olympic torch flame.
The Residents’ View
We meet Peng, a visitor from Guangzhou, near the Bird’s Nest. Looking towards the plaza, he says: “It doesn’t stand out to me.” Meanwhile a reception assistant at Pangu Plaza, Wang, tells us there are courtyard houses (siheyuan) on the roofs of the buildings. “Only one is currently occupied – by the owner of Pangu,” she says. “They are really expensive.” Outside the hotel, a self-proclaimed “ordinary man” thinks the building is “magnificent.”
The Architect’s View
Project Architect Sebastian Loaiza, from Clou Architects, is less complimentary. “This project was envisioned in a very special time and place: Beijing, 2008 – a time when the ‘new modern China’ was going to be unveiled to the world,” he explains. “This building tries to be part of that same craze but fails because it tries too hard.
“If this project were a person, it would be the annoying rich kid that wants to be noticed but hasn’t done anything worthy of attention. It’s a representation of the many ginormous developments across China. But the good news is that the trend for excess and perpetual fear of simplicity – as luxury – is passing.” Loaiza concludes: “Now that the global market is slowing down there is more time to make more conscious decisions that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.”
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