非常感谢 Kris Provoost 将项目介绍和项目图片授权gooood发行。更多请至：Kris Provoost on gooood
Appreciation towards Kris Provoost for providing the following description:

更美的中国系列
The Series

建设标志性建筑的目的就是要在城市中建立独特的天际线，但现实情况却不尽如人意。有时建筑会被其他高层挤压，有时会因为雾霾被遮挡。大多数时候，这些建筑是作为一个新城市的中心设计的，也是城市扩展计划的一部分。但是建筑师门并没有花费很多时间在场地的文脉上，他们可以自由的发挥，甚至争取调整设计上的限制。这个一系列的照片把建筑周边的环境完全抹去了，建筑作为唯一的客体被保留下来，一个纯净的对象。它们仍然是建筑吗？还是应该一个超大型的产品？这就是摄影师试图通过“美丽中国”表达的，向大众展示建筑真实的状态。

This iconic architecture aims to stand out for sure. However, the reality shows differently. Sometimes squeezed between generic high-rises, sometimes not noticeable at all due to smog. At times, the architecture is planned as a centerpiece for a new city, or a new planned extension of the city. With little to work with for ‘context analysis’ architects have a sort of free play, with manipulatable restrictions. This series of photographs takes the context away, so all that is left is an object. A purified object. Is it still architecture, or should it rather be seen as oversized product? This is an attempt at a “Beautified China”. A chance to get a status update of what exactly came from this.

National Stadium
Architect: Herzog and de Meuron
Place: Beijing, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 鸟巢，赫尔佐格和德梅隆，北京，2016

OCT Pavilion
Architect: Jurgen Mayer
Place: Shenzhen, China
Photo taken: 2014

▲ 华侨城，Jurgen Mayer，深圳，2014

Conrad Hotel
Architect: MAD Architects
Place: Beijing, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 康莱德酒店，MAD建筑事务所，北京，2016

Bund SOHO
Architect: gmp Architekten
Place: Shanghai, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 外滩 SOHO，GMP 建筑事务所，上海，2016

British Pavillion
Architect: Heatherwick
Place: Shanghai, China
Photo taken: 2010

▲ 2010 世博会英国馆，Heatherwick，上海，2010

Run Run Shaw Creative Center
Architect: Daniel Libeskind
Place: Hong Kong, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 邵逸夫创意中心，丹尼尔·李博斯金，香港，2016

China Pavilion Expo 2010 / China Art Museum
Architect: JingTang
Place: Shanghai, China
Photo taken: 2015

▲ 2010 世博会中国馆，何镜堂，上海，2015

Bund International Finance Center – Theater
Architect: Heatherwick
Place: Shanghai, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 外滩国际金融服务中心－复兴艺术中心，Heatherwick，上海，2016

Guangzhou Opera House
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Place: Guangzhou, China
Photo taken: 2014

▲ 广州歌剧院，扎哈哈迪德建筑事务所，广州，2014

International Youth Centre
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Place: Nanjing, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 国际青年文化中心，扎哈哈迪德建筑事务所，南京，2016

Galaxy SOHO
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Place: Beijing, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 银河 SOHO，扎哈哈迪德建筑事务所，北京，2016

Wangjing SOHO
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Place: Beijing, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 望京 SOHO，扎哈哈迪德建筑事务所，北京，2016

Vanke Headquarters/Horizontal Skyscraper
Architect: Steven Holl Architects
Place: Beijing*, China
Photo taken: 2014

▲ 万科总部，史蒂芬霍尔建筑事务所，北京*，2014

Moma/Linked Hybrid
Architect: Steven Holl Architects
Place: Beijing, China
Photo taken: 2011

▲ 当代 Moma，史蒂芬霍尔建筑事务所，北京，2011

CCTV Headquarters
Architect: OMA/Rem Koolhaas, Ole Scheeren
Place: Beijing, China
Photo taken: 2010-2016

▲ 中央电视台总部大楼，OMA/Rem Koolhaas, Ole Scheeren，北京，2010-2016

Shanghai Tower
Architect: Gensler
Place: Shanghai, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 上海中心大厦，Gensler，上海，2016

Novartis Campus
Architect: standardarchitecture/Zhang Ke
Place: Shanghai, China
Photo taken: 2016

▲ 诺华园区，标准营造 / 张轲，上海，2016

The History

Do you remember a good decade ago, when every architecture related website posted proposal a er proposal of iconic architecture to be build in China? All the ‘starchitects’ (do we still use that term?) were planning to build their bold designs. There was a time when every Chinese city was vying for a ‘Zaha’. is would guarantee the city to become a dot on the map. Not necessarily the known Bilbao effect, a bit more toned down version of that. But it would give the city a raison d’être. Now 10 years later, some of this iconic architecture is build. Lets have a look at how all of this turned out?

The Status Now

Most ‘starchitects’ had their chance to build, or to fulfill their wildest dreams. Some of them became landmarks: CCTV headquarters by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren or the Bird’s Nest/National Stadium by Herzog and de Meuron for example. Others have turned a suburb into a new center, or have established a new city on its own. e iconic architecture evokes a lot of controversy (China’s Chairman Xi Jingping even called out cities to allow no more weird architecture to be build. But what is de ned as weird architecture mr. Xi?) on shape/price or location. One thing is for sure, iconic architecture starts discussions and creates memories. And isn’t that what the whole intention was? Nowadays architects or visitors in general know better where that new Steven Holl or Zaha Hadid is in a city then where that ancient temple is located. Can this be called success or just superficiality?

The Background

My journey started in 2010, the year Shanghai was showing the world how things are done during the 2010 World Expo. I had just graduated as an architect. Good time to go see all these iconic structure, I thought. I started exploring China as an architect rookie, now 7 years later I am still exploring and experiencing new things. While year 1 of this journey was spent searching for these icons, understanding not more than what was there right in front of me. Years later, a deeper understanding was developed and allows me to better understand why things were done the way they were done. What created success, what was a recipe for disaster? The 7 years flew by, but I’m still as excited about going to new places or revisiting ‘old’ places as that first day in the big capital Beijing. With the background of designing and building in China, I can explore the city on a deeper level.

* 万科总部水平摩天楼的项目地址实际为深圳，the location of the Vanke Headquarters/Horizontal Skyscraper is Shenzhen.

These photos were first published in Instagram: https://instagram.com/krisprovoost
Watch #donotsettle videos here: https://www.youtube.com/donotsettle

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