Contemporary Architecture in China “Buildings and Projects 2000-2020”

Set apart from China’s globally criticised stance on the issues of climate protection, Internet censorship, and human rights, over the last ten years China’s economic centres have developed into genuine architectural destinations. Initially earning only a tired smile from the architects of the industrial nations and accused of plagiarism, breathtaking buildings have risen out of the ground in Beijing, Shanghai, and elsewhere. In many other megacities, which are virtually unknown to Europeans, buildings also bear witness to the country’s advancing modernisation. Extravagant high-rises, gigantic airports or extraordinary stadiums have already earned a place in the chronicle of 21st century architecture. Like the country’s internationally-recognised stars, Chinese architects are now also emancipating themselves from the anonymous mass of state-run project institutes and university planning offices.