‘During the course of design and construction, you have to make the project everybody’s business’, said Wang Hui when discussing the design process involved in the creation of the Tangshan Urban Planning Museum and Park- and this transparent attitude has clearly crossed over into the fabric of the building and its surrounding landscape.
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Held every two years, the Good Design is Good Business China Awards- organised by Architectural Record – awards some of the finest architectural examples in China based on their success in using design to contribute to the business goals of their clients. Called an ‘important force in raising the quality of design in the world’s most dynamic economy’, the 2010 awards nominated 17 projects across 6 different categories. (more…)
Practised in China for over 6,000 years, feng shui has played a significant role in shaping the country’s architecture. Despite attempted suppression during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, feng shui has not only remained prominent in its country of origin, but has become well known across the Western world too. (more…)
The success of prefabricated housing, or prefabs, varies from country to country. In Australia – where only 3% of all homes are designed by an architect – prefabs are far from mainstream, yet in Sweden, they account for 90% of all housing construction. And both the United Kingdom and Japan have a long history of using prefabricated housing after temporary buildings were constructed to replace those lost during World War II. (more…)
above: by Tom Dixon
above: by Lisa Whatmough of Squint (left), by Jaime Hayón (right)
above: by Michael young
above: D.B Kim of Swarovski Crystal Palace
above: Qu Guangci of Guangci
above: Barnaba Fornasetti
To celebrate its 160th anniversary this September, Hong Kong department store Lane Crawford asked eight designers to reinterpret the classic Chinese Ming chair. With those involved well respected in the design world, their associated status seems fitting when considering the fact that the Ming Chair has traditionally been reserved for people of power. (more…)
Seoul – South Korea’s capital city – is home to an urban area which in the last century has experienced unprecedented change. The city’s downtown was once home to a large stream named Gaecheon which provided water for the city’s residents. During the Japanese colonial period, this stream was renamed Cheonggyecheon, and after the Korean War ended in 1953, the reinstated Korean government spent 20 years covering the stream, opening an elevated highway above it in 1976. (more…)
When tasked with turning a 1930s former army building into a luxury 5-star hotel, most designers would begin by repairing the endless exposed concrete and brick of the interior walls. However, when Chinese architects NHDRO found themselves in this very position, a different approach was deemed necessary. (more…)
In 1989, construction began on a new town built to specialise in print and publishing located around 30 minutes from Seoul. And what better place to build such a town than Korea – a country who invented print some 200 years before the Western world lay claim to it. (more…)
‘Made in China’ – whether its consumer electronics, children’s toys, or high street fashion, these three words are familiar to almost everyone in the world. However, as the country experiences both rapid population growth and urbanisation, this ‘made in China’ approach is becoming increasingly apparent within architectural developments. (more…)
Choosing to leave his job in order to look after his wife after she suffered a stroke, Shunzo Ueda faced a dilemma. With his savings running out, no money coming in, and little desire to leave his home, how would he be able to continue to support his wife and stay living in the area he loved so much? (more…)
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