This is just the tip of the "iceberg" of Beijing's modern architecture.... ...
Taking stock of the past, over the past 60 years since the founding of the country, the architecture of Beijing as the city's image of the vicissitudes of change, catching up quickly with the Western modern architecture over the course of a century, and has made remarkable achievements.
The 1950s, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the country, in less than a year, Beijing built the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History, the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, the Beijing Railway Station, the Beijing Workers' Stadium, the National Agricultural Exhibition Center, the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the Beijing National Palace of Culture, the Nationality Hotel, the Overseas Chinese Mansion***10 buildings. The People's Daily then praised this as "an innovation in China's architectural history". The famous architect Zhang Kaiji even said "created a miracle in the world's architectural history." These "Ten Great Buildings" built in the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China became the new landmarks of ancient Beijing.
Over the past 20 years of reform and opening up, with the accelerated pace of urban construction, Beijing has also seen the emergence of the New Beijing Library (now the National Library), the International Exhibition Center, the Central Color Television Center, the Terminal Building of the Capital Airport, the International Hotel, the Grand View Garden, the Great Wall Hotel, the Chinese Theatre, the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War Memorial, the subway station of the East Forty-Two, and other "Ten Great Buildings" of the 1980s. "Top Ten Buildings"; Central Radio and Television Tower, National Olympic Sports Center and Asian Games Village, New World Center, Beijing Botanical Garden Exhibition Greenhouse, Capital Library, Tsinghua University New Library, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press Office Building, Henderson Center, New Dong'an Market, and International Finance Building in the 90's "Top Ten Buildings of the 1990s. They are not only milestones in the architectural history of Beijing, but also historical witnesses to the changes of the times. These landmarks are the city's "wheel of life", laying out the trajectory of the ancient city of Beijing's 3,000 years of Chinese history, full of both imperial atmosphere, but also full of modern fashion.
Beijing's architectural market has been open to foreign competition for more than 20 years, and the Great Wall Hotel, completed in 1983, was an early masterpiece of foreign architects. This giant building was a shocker at the time, and the use of glass curtain walls on the exterior of its main building was the first of its kind in mainland China. the three super high-rise buildings built in the late 1980s and early 1990s - the Jingguang Center, the Capital Tower and the China World Trade Center - were also designed by foreign architects. The collision and fusion of traditional Chinese and foreign architectural cultures have given Beijing's modern buildings a colorful style.
Faced with the major historical opportunity of hosting the Olympic Games, Beijing's urban construction has ushered in an unprecedented golden period, with construction starting and resuming over 100 million square meters each year. The speed, scale, quality and level of construction are not only unprecedented in China's history, but also unprecedented in the history of the development of the world's capital city.
This vibrant city has retained China's ancient architectural charm while fully absorbing the excellent concepts, techniques and technologies of foreign architects with a more open attitude. when Beijing hosted the Asian Games in 1990, the construction of the competition venues was basically undertaken by China itself. But 18 years later, when the Olympic Games were held in Beijing, many globally renowned architects joined hands with their Chinese counterparts to construct a number of outstanding buildings with distinctive features, which added color to our city. People may have different opinions about these new, distinctive, and breathtaking modern buildings, but that doesn't stop Beijing from being a big-hearted "museum of the world's architecture" in all its diversity.
The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube are undoubtedly the most iconic of the Olympic venues.
The National Stadium, the main stadium of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, known as the "Bird's Nest", was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang. The architectural form and the mesh structure are perfectly unified, clear, natural, pure and hard. The top mesh structure adopts the principle of wheel spoke force, and its completely independent structure can resist horizontal temperature deformation, wind load and earthquake force. It sets up a unique historical landmark building for the 2008 Olympic Games and will be of groundbreaking significance in the history of world architectural development. It was selected as one of the "Ten New Architectural Wonders of China" by Business Week, one of the "Ten Architectural Wonders of the World 2007" by Time Magazine, one of the "Ten Largest and Most Important Architectural Projects Under Construction in the World" by The Times, and one of the "Ten Largest and Most Important Architectural Projects Under Construction in the World" by Australia.
With the "Ten Best Modern Buildings in Beijing" by the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, and the "Ten Largest and Most Important Building Projects under Construction in the World" by The Times, UK.
The Bird's Nest is mirrored by the Water Cube, the national swimming center. It was designed by Australian architect Mark Butler and Chinese architect Zhao Xiaoxiao. Butler and Chinese architect Zhao Xiaojun. This novel, chic and beautiful building is the world's first attempt to membrane structure system of the building. Its shape resembles a blue water box, and its walls are like a mass of irregular bubbles. The overall building consists of more than 3,000 air pillows of different sizes and shapes, which is the largest in the world. The blue roof wall, and the crystal clear water complement each other, like a dream, like a dream of the Water Cube, people attracted, yearning, the Olympic arena sublimated into the world's heart of the water park. During the day, the light blue "coat" bathed in bright sunshine, picturesque; at night, the lights shine bubbly colorful, charming. It is undoubtedly a classic in the history of the century-old Olympic architecture, and will be a landmark in the architectural history of Beijing and even the world. It was selected as one of the "Top 10 New Architectural Wonders of China" by the American "Business Week" and "Top 10 Best Modern Buildings in Beijing" by the Australian "Sydney Morning Herald".
The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube are located on the east and west sides of Beijing's central axis, taking the meaning of "heaven is round and earth is square", which permeates traditional Chinese philosophical thinking.
The National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and the new CCTV building are the first cultural venues to be built in Beijing.
The National Center for the Performing Arts was designed by French architect Paul Andreu. Andrew presided over the design of the National Grand Theater, the roof is semi-elliptical, covered by titanium with a soft tone and luster, with a dedication to the new century beyond the imagination of the "Pearl of the Lake" in a strange posture. The shape is novel, avant-garde and uniquely conceived, a combination of tradition and modernity, romance and reality. The 506 "mushroom lights" on the surface of the shell emit light like the twinkling stars in the night sky. The modern National Grand Theater stands side by side with the ancient Forbidden City, and adherence to tradition and innovation are eternal topics in the construction industry. It has been selected as one of the "Top 10 New Architectural Wonders of China" by BusinessWeek and one of the "Top 10 Best Modern Buildings in Beijing" by the Sydney Morning Herald.
The new CCTV site, which has a strong visual impact, was designed by Dutch architect Koolhaas. The two main buildings are like "swords" piercing the sky. The shape of the building is a "Z" type, but also unique, completely breaking the existing architectural conventions. In this regard, there has been a joke: the new site in the construction, a member of the public called the Beijing TV "special attention" column said: "CCTV new building is crooked, will soon collapse, come to look at it". This is the world's second largest office building after the U.S. Pentagon, but also the world's largest single steel structure building. It was selected as one of "China's Top Ten New Architectural Wonders" by Business Week, "World's Top Ten Architectural Wonders 2007" by Time Magazine, "Top Ten Best Modern Buildings in Beijing" by Sydney Morning Herald, and "Top Ten Best Modern Buildings in Beijing" by Times Magazine.
Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 is one of the most important transportation buildings in the world.
The new terminal, a complementary project to the 2008 Olympic Games, was designed by British architect Lord Foster. It is the largest single terminal in the world. The new terminal is four times larger than the one currently in use. The color design of the new terminal adopts red and yellow with Chinese characteristics, and its shape resembles a huge dragon; in order to reflect the brilliant Chinese civilization, ten landscapes with national characteristics have been built inside the building, and the themes are taken from the classic works of Beijing's royal architecture. With the completion of the new terminal building, Capital International Airport has been ranked among the world's top five airports in terms of passenger volume. It has been selected as one of the "Ten Largest and Most Important Building Projects Under Construction in the World" by The Times (UK), "China's Top Ten New Architectural Wonders" by BusinessWeek (US), and "Beijing's Top Ten Best Modern Buildings" by The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), "Beijing's Ten Best Modern Buildings".
A large number of modern buildings as the second "ladder", also has its own characteristics.
The Beijing Television Center, located on the extension of East Chang'an Street, features one of the world's largest ****enjoyment atriums, a 1,980-square-meter sky garden, and a refuge floor in case of emergency. The 800-square-meter apron at the top of the floor is used by broadcast helicopters. It is a landmark building with cultural characteristics of the capital, and is the highest steel structure building in Beijing at present.
The Central Radio and Television Tower is located on the west side of the West Third Ring Middle Road, with a height of 386.5 meters, plus a total height of 405 meters of lightning rods, which is China's third and the world's sixth tallest tower. In this multifunctional and modernized landmark building, there is the highest rotating restaurant in Beijing (221 meters), and the largest open-air observation platform in the world. Its night lighting is even better, and has been awarded the first prize of "Capital City Night Lighting". At night, when you look up at the CCTV Tower, it looks like a big lantern hanging in the sky, dazzling.
Beijing Chaotian Wheel, which is known as the most charming modern iconic tourist building in Beijing, is located in Chaoyang Park. Wheel diameter of about 198 meters, ground height of 208 meters, its height and specifications in similar buildings for the world's largest. It is a large-scale movable steel structure viewing building, which can carry up to 1,920 people at a time. The 28-meter-long wheel axle can make its service life more than 50 years and 750,000 revolutions. The simple "A" shaped support structure of the entire wheel not only ensures the aesthetic appearance of the structure, but also minimizes the obstruction of the support structure to the view of the passengers. On a clear day, the distance can be up to tens of kilometers.
When talking about the World Trade Center on the east side of Dongdaqiao Road, it is impossible not to mention the electronic dream canopy which is the first one in Asia and the second one in the world. The 250-meter-long, 30-meter-wide canopy was designed by Hollywood stage master Jeremy Railton, who won an Oscar and four Emmys. Although the scale of the canopy is slightly inferior to the Las Vegas Canopy, the advanced technology used is far beyond the Las Vegas Canopy, making it the first in the world. The dynamic and brilliant light and sound effects are unpredictable and mesmerizing, making it a world-class aerial spectacle that attracts crowds.
The Commune at the Foot of the Great Wall is a private collection of contemporary architectural works of art designed and built by 12 of Asia's leading architects. It has been awarded the "Grand Prize for the Promotion of Architecture and Art" at the Venice Biennale in Italy, selected as one of the "Top Ten New Architectural Wonders of China" by BusinessWeek in the United States, and one of the "Top Ten Best Contemporary Buildings in Beijing" by the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia. "
Beijing
The only low-density, humanistic and artistic single-family, Chinese-style courtyard office building in Beijing is Desheng Shangcheng, located on the north side of Deshengmen. On the original Beijing city texture, modern architectural elements and ancient culture are blended to make it a luxurious and tasteful building and a unique work of art.
The Contemporary MOMA, which has won the LEED ND Award for Excellence in Green Building in the United States and has become the only green eco-community in Asia, is characterized by high comfort and energy-saving concepts of an internationally advanced level. There is no need to turn on the air conditioner in summer and no need to ventilate in winter. It was selected as one of the "China's Top Ten New Architectural Wonders" by Business Week and one of the "World's Top Ten Architectural Wonders in 2007" by Time Magazine.
In addition to this, there are a number of novelty buildings worth mentioning.
The China Millennium Altar, built to welcome the new millennium in the 21st century, is located on the extension line of West Chang'an Street, and its main building consists of static corridors and rotating altars, which is the largest and heaviest rotating altar in the world at present.
Located on the west side of Baiyun Road, the new Capital Museum is a fine piece of architectural art integrating classical and modern beauty, with strong national characteristics and a distinctive sense of modernity, and the whole building has a novel and bright image.
The remodeled Beijing New South Railway Station, whose function completely surpasses that of Beijing Railway Station and Beijing West Railway Station, is the most modernized station in China and the largest station in Asia. Its appearance is highly imposing.
The Beijing Botanical Garden's Tropical Plant Exhibition Greenhouse, deep at the foot of Fragrant Hill, is the world's largest single greenhouse in terms of area, and is considered a masterpiece in the history of Chinese architecture.
The New Poly Building, which is located next to the Dongsishitiao Bridge, has the world's first single-story bi-directional flexible glass curtain wall in terms of height and span, as well as the largest special suspended building in China, whose unique and magnificent design shows its transcendent momentum. It is regarded as a "masterpiece of the world" by the industry.
Oriental Plaza, known as the "Giant" of Beijing's architecture, is the largest commercial complex in Asia. It has created a number of construction of the most, and has attracted the attention of the world.
Between Fuchengmen and Fuxingmen on the West Second Ring Road, a modern building complex with a construction area of 3 million square meters and a strong national style and characteristics of the times has legendarily risen in an area of 1,700 meters in length and more than 600 meters in width--Financial Street.
The third phase of China World Trade Center, which enjoys the reputation of "the tallest building in Beijing", together with the first and second phases of China World Trade Center, constitutes a 1.1-million-square-meter building complex, becoming the world's largest international trade center. With 80 floors and a height of 330 meters, it has become a landmark building in Beijing.
The tallest building in Beijing with a pure concrete structure is the Yintai Center. Landscape and greenery are the natural theme of the project, and lanterns are the cultural theme of the project, thus making the Yintai Center an even more eye-catching building.
Jianwai SOHO, the ultimate representative of minimalist style, consists of 20 towers, 4 villas and 16 small streets. It has been featured on MTV the most times in China, and has been called Beijing's "most fashionable living window".
Relying on the mountains, the meandering Fragrant Hills Hotel was designed by Mr. I.M. Pei, an internationally renowned architectural designer, in line with the traditional Chinese garden architectural style, and also meets the modern tourism function. It has been awarded the honorary prize by the American Institute of Architects.
The largest purely residential building in Beijing, R&F City, with a total floor area of more than 1.4 million square meters, is claimed to be "a place where owners can spend their vacations without having to go to the suburbs". The greening rate has reached more than 50%, and there are more than 80 kinds of trees alone.
Walking pen to this, some feelings, the capital has characteristics, landmarks of modern architecture is really beautiful, it is difficult to exhaust, here may be just a glimpse of a spot. Try to list some of the building directory, may wish to prepare for the examination: office and commercial buildings - China Central Place, Global Trade Center, Jinyuan Lufthansa, West Ring Plaza, Liz Carlton and Marriott, Fortune Center, Yintai Center, Capital Tower, Jindi Center, Zhongguancun Plaza, Dacheng International, Digital Tower, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press office building, Six Hundred, Wanda Plaza, Jiacheng Plaza, Xio Center, etc.; civil buildings - Century City, Phoenix City, Star River Bay, Pearl River Imperial View, New City International, Palm Springs, etc. ......
2008 Beijing Olympics is around the corner, Beijing has never become the center of attention of 6 billion people around the globe as it is today. Beijing has never been the center of attention of 6 billion people around the world, and Beijing has never gained the intuition that allows the whole world to see it up close and personal like today. For all the old and new buildings, big and small, that represent Beijing's urban image, it's a public debut for the world.......
A city needs passion, and more of that passion will come from the lines and footprints of urban construction. Architecture is the backbone of the city, forging its strength and witnessing its splendor. We are already happy to see that a new Beijing full of vitality is rising. We are looking forward to the process of moving towards an international metropolis, in the passionate collision of Eastern and Western cultures, the architecture of the city of Beijing will continue to innovate and improve, and find a new path for the development of Chinese architecture with a long history, and write an architectural epic like a "grand narrative"!