‘No more weird architecture’: Chinese directive draws line in the sand on ‘strange’ buildings
Gated communities to open up to outside traffic, under new State Council guidelines
No more “weird” architecture, gated communities or illegal structures will be built on the mainland, according to an urban blueprint released by the central government on Sunday.
The directive from the State Council came two months after leaders met for the Central Urban Work Conference,which ended with a commitment to tackle urban ills such as pollution, public safety and traffic jams.
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The last time the mainland held such a meeting was in 1978, when only 18 per cent of the population lived in towns and cities. That figure had increased to 55 per cent – or 750 million people – by the end of last year.
The directive demands that urban architecture be “suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye”, in contrast to the “oversized, xenocentric, weird” buildings devoid of character or cultural heritage that have sprung up in mainland cities – a trend President Xi Jinping said reflected “a lack of cultural confidence and some city officials’ distorted attitudes about political achievements”.
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Various unorthodox structures have graced the skyline of many cities in recent years, including Beijing’s landmark CCTV headquarters, also referred to as the “Big Trousers” for its pants-like design.
Copies of famous Western landmarks, such as the White House, Eiffel Tower and London Bridge can also be spotted in many towns across the country.