Leader Without democratic constraints, architects must restrain themselves

摘要

As we learn in Adrian Hornsby's special report on Beijing this week (see pages 20-33), while the absolute power wielded by local officials in China has arguably made Beijing a morally dubious place to work, it has also made working there an absolute pleasure for architects. Both Patrick Schumacher of Zaha Hadid Architects and Will Alsop say that it's a relief to work in a country that lacks proper planning procedures, lawyers and public consultations. Herzog & de Meuron's Jacques Herzog also enthused about working in Beijing in his lecture earlier this year at the Tate Modern, gushing about how every detail of his Olympic stadium in the city was faithfully rendered without alteration, right down to the park's 'Bird's Nest'-replica outdoor lights.