The New Great Walls

Current Issue May 2009
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The New Great Walls

With the Olympics looming, China is pushing architecture to its limits for a giant coming-out party.

/2008/05/china/architecture/img/1-beijing-arts-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-01.jpg Panorama by Stephen Wilkes, composed of two images National Center for the Performing Arts
Architect: Paul Andreu, France
Completed: 2007
Rising amid an aging hutong neighborhood, the vast titanium dome of Beijing's new arts center sits near the Great Hall of the People (at right) and Tiananmen Square. Known as the egg, it serves as "a symbol of rebirth," says architect Paul Andreu.]]> /2008/05/china/architecture/img/2-beijing-towers-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-02.jpg Photograph by Greg Girard China Central Television Headquarters
Architect: OMA's Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren, the Netherlands/Beijing
Expected completion: 2009
CCTV's 768-foot leaning towers connect to form a continuous loop "symbolizing collaboration," says architect Ole Scheeren. Part of a 6.5-million-square-foot complex that rivals the Pentagon in size, this audacious giant (along with the China World Trade Center Tower, at right) crowns Beijing's central business district—a trophy of China's ambition.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1143793 /2008/05/china/architecture/img/3-beijing-bicycle-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-03.jpg Photograph by Greg Girard http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1143795 /2008/05/china/architecture/img/4-beijing-aquatics-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-04.jpg Photograph by Greg Girard National Aquatics Center ("Water Cube")
Architects: PTW, Australia, and CCDI, China
Completed: 2008
Based on the structure of soap bubbles, airfilled pockets of translucent plastic (which glow blue at night) form the rectangular face of Beijing's Olympic swimming center. When the games begin, such groundbreaking works may earn Beijing its own share of glory.]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1143791 /2008/05/china/architecture/img/5-beijing-stadium-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-05.jpg Photograph by Greg Girard National Stadium
Architect: Herzog & de Meuron, Switzerland
Completed: 2008
A lacy tangle of steel twigs cradles Beijing's 91,000-seat Olympic stadium, nicknamed the bird's nest by locals. "We didn't design it to be Chinese," says noted Beijing artist Ai Weiwei, a consultant on the project. "It's an object for the world."]]> http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1143792 /2008/05/china/architecture/img/6-beijing-workers-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-06.jpg Photograph by Greg Girard /2008/05/china/architecture/img/7-beijing-construction-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-07.jpg Photograph by Greg Girard http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1143797 /2008/05/china/architecture/img/8-beijing-skyscraper-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-08.jpg Photograph by Ben McMillan, Arcaid/Alamy /2008/05/china/architecture/img/9-beijing-highway-714.jpg /2008/05/china/architecture/img/architecture-60-09.jpg Photograph by Greg Girard http://pictopia.com/perl/ptp/natgeo?photo_name=1143796