Working in Asia can allow architects to “break free of their shackles” and design iconic buildings that they otherwise may never have the chance to build. But it could be to the detriment of the nation’s skyline, a leading architect has said.
Cheap materials and clients that demand ‘spectacular’ designs can mean liberation for international architects used to working to the constraints of budget and conservative attitudes.
But China is risking becoming a “potpourri” of architectural styles as it uses its skyline to state its place in the world, a Woodhead managing principal has said on returning from four years’ working in Asia.
“You are getting a potpourri of international styles, from post modern through to the current contemporary style, and it is all going to look a bit disjointed in the urban context,” Geoffrey Lee told Architecture & Design.
Most of the major, iconic projects have come from international design competitions which “lock out” local architects, Lee said.
“China is so intent on proving to the world that it is a world power, that it is hell bent on making political statements through buildings,” he said.
The result is that in 20 years’ time China’s built environment could be “a museum of architectural styles”, Lee said.
“They’re going to have some good examples and they’ll probably have some bad examples, which a lot of cities do have, but the difference is they’ve done it all in 15 years.”
Lee has recently returned to Australia having spent four years living and working in China and Singapore, having worked on highly successful projects including Changi Airport Terminal 3, Beijing Terminal 3 and the Caohejing Business Park in Shanghai. Lee will be based in the Sydney studio.
