Trailblazing Mainland Architects Are Few and Far Between
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JUNE 10, 2012 Trailblazing mainland architects are few and far between Pulitzer White heat, Living Following winner black magic under Australia’s Massoud P34 internet Great Ocean Hossaini P22 orders P28 Road P60 Cover story Shaky foundations n a second-floor over the past few decades; the country is still Architecture’s top award was office in the archi- seen as being strong on engineers but weak tecture department on creative designers. won by a Chinese citizen for of the mainland’s “As the quantity of architecture work most prestigious increased from the end of the 1980s, many the first time this year, but university, Professor problems occurred in terms of designers not Xu Weiguo sits striving for higher quality,” says Xu. “As long home-grown professionals contemplating the as it could be built, it was. But the situation is changes that have changing. Chinese architects are developing are still seen, for the most occurred since he and maturing and good young architects are enrolled here, in the coming through.” part, as being second rate. first year that classes Not everyone is as optimistic. were resumed following “There is a reason why there are just a few Kit Gillet and Hannah Xu the Cultural Revolution. domestically trained Chinese architects in the “Architecture and design stopped from top ranks in China,” says Liu Xiaodu, principal find out why. 1966 to 1978,” explains the head of Tsinghua architect at Shenzhen-headquartered architect- University’s School of Architecture. “The first ural firm Urbanus. “Tsinghua is great for solid Iprofessors back were educated in the UK, the technical training, but the best students must USA and Russia. They brought knowledge of then go out to be exposed to Western styles postmodernism, deconstructionism and other and training.” new styles.” Liu and his two co-founders earned master’s The school has expanded significantly – degrees at Tsinghua in the 1990s and taught at 1,100 students study here today – yet the the school, before heading to the United States, mainland’s reputation as an incubator of to finish their education. young, talented architects has barely grown “If young students are aiming high, they 16 Pictures: Reuters; The New York Times “China is now almost a new country or a firms doing interesting projects in China, so Clockwise from main completely new country. We are unsure of we can learn from them.” picture: aconstruction our future and our tradition. We are just Nearby, 20-year-old Huang Haiyang is site in Shanghai; the moving forward in confusion.” arguing over elaborate designs for a glass art Ningbo History Museum, Asked why he named his office Amateur gallery with a fellow student. one of the buildings that Architecture Studio, Wang, who said he has “Modern Chinese style is still growing, so got Wang Shu noticed by wept for the grandeur the capital has lost – it is an interesting time to be an architect in the Pritzker Prize judges; “The old Beijing was so beautiful; even more China,” he says. “I may do an internship in a Wang poses in front of beautiful than Paris” – replied: “Many people foreign firm but eventually I will come back to another of his designs, say China’s new cities look horrible. Professional China. Foreign firms are a place to study and the China Academy architects churn out rubbish works. Unknown, train, but not somewhere to work long term.” of Art, in Hangzhou, non-professional masters … produce the most Xu is quietly optimistic that some of his Zhejiang province. beautiful works. I choose to go with them.” students will succeed, that a small handful The audience at the National Convention will be recognised on the world stage along- Centre heard from Pritzker laureates Frank side the likes of Wang, Ma Yansong and Shao Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel and Glenn Weiping (see following pages) and make a Murcutt, as well as Zhu Xiaodi, director of telling contribution to the nation’s architec- the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design – tural future. He is, however, realistic. the biggest such institute in the world, with “We need some architecture stars in 1,500 architects under its wing. China but not everyone can become one. It “Many works by Chinese architects lack is important to lay the technical background depth and character,” said Zhu, warning “we because if we train all to become stars, most may become victims” of globalisation. will fail.” Murcutt offered some words of advice: Perhaps surprisingly, the sheer amount of “Globalisation flattens out culture. A timeless work being undertaken in China is seen as a component in architecture is something that barrier to the development of a distinct, inspir- belongs to its culture. China needs to be careful ing modern Chinese style. need to go abroad. Three years practising in in looking for its model.” “The whole country is a construction site China and then go.” and that leaves building quality a big question. Wang Shu, the first Chinese citizen to win “THERE IS A DIFFERENCE in levels be- Also, foreigners are more interested in our a Pritzker Prize in the “Nobel Prize of archi- tween top Chinese and top foreign architects,” markets than our architects,” says Liu. “Chinese tecture’s” 33-year history, has been equally says Xu. “Foreign architects have done a lot firms don’t need to go in for international critical of home-grown architects. While still more global projects and have a lot more competitions so they don’t try, but sooner or at school, he wrote an essay titled The Crisis experience. Only in the last few years have later they will have to start, and it will be a of Contemporary Chinese Architecture and Chinese architects looked overseas. I think hard wake-up call for most.” during his thesis defence announced, “China Chinese architects will win more international “Speed is a killer for architecture,” says MAD has an architect and a half. I’m one, and my competitions [for building commissions] in the Architects’ Ma. “Design periods are very short teacher, Ji Kang, is the half.” next 10 years.” in China. The Harbin Opera House we are A floor above where Xu is sitting, groups currently working on; we haven’t released the ON MAY 24, THE DAY before Wang’s of young architecture students are scattered final designs because we haven’t finalised the Pritzker award ceremony at the Great Hall among cramped computer workstations facade and the interior but the construction of the People, a panel discussion was held at sketching building plans on digital design company has already laid the foundations.” Beijing’s National Convention Centre. Wang programs and on notebooks. was among the speakers, who were asked to “Many thought Wang Shu didn’t have what IN THE AFTERNOON of May 24, the panel contemplate “globalisation, localisation, it takes to win the Pritzker Prize, but I think it discussion moved from the National Convention challenge and innovation”. proposes a new thinking, which is to pursue Centre to the auditorium of Tsinghua University. “Architects now work in the context of Chinese national culture,” says Xi Chongxiao, There, Wang told the assembled students: “The globalisation,” he told his audience. “This a petite, quiet-spoken 21-year-old tucked in a current educational system can hardly produce means global commercialisation and indus- small cubicle with two other students. “It’s outstanding architects. You have to engage in trialisation. The world is being flooded by hard for Chinese architects to win commissions self-salvation through self-study. standardised buildings. Globalisation must for foreign projects, but there are now Chinese “The most important thing is to have your be detrimental to cultural diversity. architects working in foreign firms and foreign own thinking.” >> June 10, 2012 Post Magazine 17 Cover story: profile Akind of MADness At 36, Ma Yansong has already made his mark on the international scene, writes Kit Gillet. Picture: Simon Picture: Song ffortlessly stylish in a simple black shirt and jeans, Ma Yansong sits cradling a cup of tea with a pack of flu medicine nearby. He E has just returned to his office, in the heart of a complex of thin ancient alleyways in Beijing, from a work trip to France, and looks tired; like someone who simply doesn’t have enough hours in the day to accomplish all the things he would like to. The 36-year-old, Yale University-educated architect is increasingly being seen as a rising star. Potentially, he is on his way to becoming China’s first “starchitect”. He was the first mainland architect to win an international commission: the Absolute Towers in Canada, which came just three years after he graduated from architecture school and two years after he launched his own, Beijing-based firm, MAD Architects. “I always wanted to work for myself, so I registered my office straight after graduation,” Ma says. “I was in London [working for Zaha Hadid Architects] for a short time – a couple of competitions [for building commissions], less than one year – and by 2004 I had returned to China to begin entering competitions myself. “When I decided to come back it wasn’t already clear there was a construction boom here,” he explains. “I just wanted to come back because I was born here and this is my home.” Ma didn’t take it too seriously in the beginning. “Entering architect- ure competitions was very easy, it was just like being in architecture school,” he says. MAD entered more than 100 such contests in its first opportunity for them,” says Ma. “The opportunities mostly go to older, Above: Ma Yansong. year or so, gaining valuable experience but no major commissions.