February 2012
12 posts
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City to put more limits on skyscraper foundation... →
(Cracks in the ground in the vicinity of the Shanghai Tower, pictured under construction with red scaffolding, have caused widespread concern. File photo/CFP)
Shanghai will restrict the construction of large foundation pits for new building projects in an effort to reduce land subsidence hazards, city construction officials said yesterday. Projects that involve building deep and large...
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Spiral Gallery by Atelier Deshaus →
(Photo by Zhang Siye)
“This gallery is adjacent to the central greenland of Jiading new town. The green land has pleasant scenery, and has existed from the beginning of the design. For this reason, the “spiral” type we choose is not only a way to organize the exhibition space; it is also a way to see the view.” (Archdaily)
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Travelling children's library, Shanghai, 1949 →
(From Virtual Shanghai)
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Shanghai metro "bullet train" slated for 2014 →
Shanghai metro authorities have almost finished installing the fastest train in the city’s history along the newly-constructed line 16 subway route - a 59-kilometer-track connecting Lingang New City to Longyang Road. According to subway officials, the 46 new ‘bullet’ trains will undergo a trial run sometime this year. By 2014, line 16 will open to the public. (Shanghaiist)
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Shanghai wants another 50 regional headquarters in... →
(Photo by Esther Young)
Shanghai, already the preferred regional headquarters hub for multinationals in China, wants another 50 MNCs to locate their Asian headquarters in the city. The target, unveiled by the Shanghai Commerce Commission, will see the total number of regional headquarters exceed 400 by the end of the year. (Shanghaiist)
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Shanghai still more expensive than New York →
The cost of living for expats is still higher in Shanghai than it is in New York, according to the latest survey. Shanghai rose six places to rank 42nd in a global list while New York climbed two places from 49th spot in June to 47th, according to a cost of living survey by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit using data from December last year. (Shanghai Daily)
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German Town in Anting, Albert Speer & Partner
“Shanghai” Photo by arndalarm
Photo series of the “One City, Nine Towns” project in Shanghai for German architecture magazine ‘bauwelt’, issue 7-2012.
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“Shanghai consumed some 21.27 million kilowatts of power during peak hours...”
– Global Times
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PAVILIONS IN BAILIANJING PARK BY TARANTA CREATIONS →
Public art is always a great opportunity to do something exciting that can bring some joy to people. This series of small pavilions created by Taranta Creations that line the Hangpu River in Shanghai. (The Fox is Black)
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Shanghai: Art deco capital of the East →
Architecture buff Spencer Dodington explains why Shanghai’s art deco heritage is unrivaled in Asia and how it differs from New York and Miami. (CNNGo)
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Shanghai offshore wind farm claims world first →
(Huaneng Renewables will take 17 of the SL6000 model. Photograph: Sinove)
Sinovel, China’s largest wind turbine maker, will put a set of 6-megawatt (mw) wind turbines into operation off the coast of Shanghai in what is claimed to be the world’s first large-scale commercial application of such powerful offshore wind turbines.
Sinovel will supply Huaneng Renewables, a leading Chinese...
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Shanghai restricts use of glass curtain walls in... →
(Photo by IceNineJon)
The use of reflective glass curtain walls will be banned in apartment, hospital, school, kindergarten and nursing home structures that have two stories or more, a local construction official said in Shanghai on Tuesday, citing safety concerns.
“Cracking and dropping glass curtain walls have become a hidden danger for urban residents. The problem of their reflection...
January 2012
10 posts
7 tags
New South China Mall: Too big to fail →
Six years after the world’s largest shopping mall opened, over 99% of its shops remain empty. And yet the mall continues to expand. (Domus)
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DUKOU BOOKSTORE →
(Photo by Mars Hsu)
On Julu Lu Road, you can see a lot of French architecture built during their settlement of the area in Shanghai. Brightened up with new fancy shops, the street still retains a quiet character. There, you can find a quaint little bookstore named Dukou on the first floor of a three-storied French residence complete with a small garden, a wooden table and chairs. (Shift)
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Administration Building of the North Shanghai Gas... →
Administration Building of the North Shanghai Gas Company in Jiading by Atelier Deshaus (ArchDaily)
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The Global Economy's "Metropolitan Moment" →
(Photo by Iker Gil)
For many emerging-market cities like these, 2011 was truly a “metropolitan moment.” Our new Global MetroMonitor, a study of economic growth in the world’s 200 largest metropolitan economies, reveals that nearly all of the fastest-growing metro areas last year were in developing regions of Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
Which city ranked first? Shanghai.
Check and...
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China's urban population outnumbers rural for... →
(Photo by franklam2010)
The number of people living in China’s cities for the first time exceeded those in the country’s rural areas at the end of 2011, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Tuesday. The number of urban dwellers increased by 21 million to hit 690.79 million at the end of 2011, accounting for 51.27 percent of the country’s total. Meanwhile, the rural...
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World's busiest port →
A trip to Shanghai Yangshan Port proves the city is not only about skyscrapers — its industrial heart beats as strong as ever (CNNGo)
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Shanghai to begin PM2.5 pollution monitoring →
Shanghai will finally install PM2.5 air-quality monitoring equipment after more than two months since it pledged to do so.
With the system’s launch, the city will join a league of regions spanning Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Yangtze River Delta, Zhujiang River Delta and elsewhere preparing to employ the PM2.5 monitor this year. Next year, the standard will encompass 113 new cities and by...
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Shanghai Shopfronts →
“In the residential blocks of Shanghai the ground floor is frequently occupied by small family run retail and repair shops that open directly to the sidewalk. The operators of these shops commonly live directly above or behind the storefront shops, allowing them to remain open late into the night, giving the street a constant buzz of activity.
The cramped living quarter above the shops...
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20 reasons to visit Shanghai in 2012 →
China’s mega metropolis will enter its luckiest lunar year, host numerous exciting events and refresh the futuristic skyline. (CNNGo)
December 2011
8 posts
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China tests 500 km/h super high-speed train →
China launched a super-rapid test train over the weekend which is capable of travelling 500 kilometers per hour, state media said on Monday, as the country moves ahead with its railway ambitions despite serious problems on its high-speed network. (Reuters)
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Where is the sun? →
Photo by le niners
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Shanghai exhibition center to be among the world's... →
Shanghai began construction of what will be one of the world’s largest exhibition facilities yesterday. The China Expo Convention & Exhibition Complex will have 400,000 square meters of indoor space and 100,000 square meters of outdoor areas - double the size of the Shanghai New International Expo Center, currently the city’s largest exhibition facility. (Shanghai Daily)
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the cackle and pop of street food →
(Photo by Sue Anne Tay)
Over the din of chattering crowds and honking cars, the roar of fired up woks was accompanied by the sweet and savory smells of winter snacks wafting seductively through the cold, night air. Along the narrow street on North Haining Lu (北海宁路) near Wusong Lu (吴淞路), business at Hongkou’s best snack stores were in full swing. (Shanghai Street Stories)
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Shanghai
Photograph by arndalarm
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Opening of Lafuente exhibition
(This is a guest post by Alvaro Leonardo, senior designer architect at POLIFACTORY)
The exhibition “An Imprint of Spain on China” opened this past Saturday, December 3rd with more than 150 people attending its inauguration. The highlight was the creative and unique way in which Alvaro Leonardo and his team have presented the findings of their research. Photos, letters, original sketches, maps, and...
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China wants housing curbs extended →
(High rise apartment blocks under Construction in Shanghai via Overseas Property Mall. Photo credits to DCF_pics)
China’s central government has ordered local governments to extend restrictions on the property market, some of which are set to expire within coming months. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has emphasized the need for policy continuity in the property...
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A complete guide to China's high-speed rail →
Four expert tips and 5 top lines travelers shouldn’t miss. (CNNGo)
November 2011
8 posts
5 tags
西班牙在中国的遗迹 | AN IMPRINT OF SPAIN IN CHINA
Above is the invitation to the opening of the exhibition “An imprint of Spain in China.” The exhibition, curated by Alvaro Leonardo who is also a contributor in this blog, showcases the projects and works of Abelardo Lafuente, the only Spanish architect in China 100 years ago.
The opening will take place on Saturday December 3 at 4pm in South Bund 22 (south of Lost Heaven).
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A new look at old Shanghai →
(The streets of Songjiang, a suburb of Shanghai, photographed by Julien Daniel / MYOP)
The colonial Chinese city is feted for its historical architecture, but the Shanghai of today is emblematic of a very modern China. Photographs by Julien Daniel / MYOP (Time)
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Best skyscrapers in Shanghai →
I am sure everybody has a different opinion about, but just for fun here is a list of the best skyscrapers in Shanghai according to architect Rachel Burgess. (CNNGo)
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Shanghai Gets Supersized →
(Photo by Justin Guariglia)
Boasting 200 skyscrapers, China’s financial capital has grown like no other city on earth – and shows few signs of stopping. An article by David Devoss for the November issue of the Smithsonian magazine.
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The Swatch Art Peace Hotel: A Shanghai heritage... →
Eighteen artist residences and seven aesthetic guest rooms come to life in the former Shanghai Peace Hotel (CNNGo)
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Wavy, Wonderful Brick Facade Marries Shanghai's... →
An old fabric warehouse is converted into a stunningly modern office and exhibit hall. (Fast Company)
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Portraits of government buildings in China →
Shen Xiaoming is a photographer from Zhejiang who has made a name for himself in the last year for his portraits of government buildings around China. From 2005 to 2006, China witnessed the biggest surge in the construction of government building, many of which are located in the new development zones. Such buildings have become the key strategy for the new zones to draw economy and draw...
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Available Light
Photo by Rob-Shanghai
October 2011
4 posts
9 tags
The Model City →
Scale models have been built for cities all over the world, from Rome to Shanghai to Los Angeles to Moscow. Most of these models were built by governments for government purposes. Some were used for plotting out infrastructure like airports and subways, and others were used to act as a canvas for planning out new developments. (The Atlantic)
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A German Ghost Town in the Heart of China →
Half-timbered buildings and medieval romance — that’s what the Chinese wanted. But the architecture firm Speer thought it knew better, and built a modern German residential quarter on the outskirts of Shanghai. Now that it is complete, though, nobody wants to live there. Even Oktoberfest was cancelled. (Der Spiegel via Shanghaiist)
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“As a transport planner, I think that the way we design our cities, how we...”
– Geetam Tiwari, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
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Totems by Alain Delorme - Portraits of Shanghai's... →
Photographer Alain Delorme has produced an excellent gallery devoted to these cyclists, calling them “new totems of a society in complete transformation, both a factory for the world and a new El Dorado of the market economy.” (Shanghaiist)
September 2011
11 posts
4 tags
Exhibition: Spanish Heritage in China. Abelardo... →
“Polifactory will be organizing and producing an exhibition in Shanghai in December: SPANISH HERITAGE IN CHINA: ABELARDO LAFUENTE. With support and sponsorship from the Spanish Consulate, the exhibition will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Abelardo Lafuente’s death in Shanghai with a celebration of his work in the city.”
Congratulations to Alvaro Leonardo and the rest of the...
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Foreign demographics in Shanghai →
Last year’s Shanghai census was the first ever to count foreigners. We learn that there are about 210,000 foreigners living in Shanghai, or just about 1% of the population. That’s about half the foreigner population of Hong Kong (437,000), and double that of Beijing. More figures in Global Times (via Shanghaiist)
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China 'Cancels' an Entire City →
It’s usually extremists and dictator-like leaders who use the phrase “wiped off the map,” and they usually mean it as a threat to some other nation they’d like to see destroyed. Not often is that phrase put into action, and especially not domestically. But officials in China have done just that: they’ve wiped one of their own cities off the map. The map, yes, but not the earth. Physically...
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Saudi Pavilion rerun sparks Shanghai tourism →
And another pavilion opens again after the Expo:
Shanghai’s post-Expo enthusiasm is due to hit another high note as the Saudi Arabian Pavilion (aka Moon Boat), one of the most popular pavilions during last year’s Shanghai Expo, is set to re-open from September 28. (CNNGo)
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Rabbit: The Light Gallery Exhibition by dEEP... →
This exhibition space design by dEEP Architects is for an art exhibition titled ‘Heaven’ that is being held in Shanghai’s trend setting shopping destination Xin Tian Di Shopping Mall. The form of a rabbit was chosen because in the Chinese culture this year is the Year of the Rabbit. (ArchDaily)
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The global economy in 2030 →
Not a surprise at all but worth sharing this infographic from The Economist (via Shanghaiist)
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Shanghai’s Stunning Sun Valley Pavilion Boasts the... →
The 2010 Shanghai World Expo earned the metropolis the nickname “the next great world city” - an honor that is no doubt partially due to the incredible Expo pavilion. Designed by German team SBA International, The EXPO-AXIS pavilion has now been transformed into a permanent green space for Shanghai. The beautiful funnel-like structure directs daylight into the floors below, and it is topped with...
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Huaxi, China's richest village, builds itself a... →
It’s a tiny village that’s home to just 380 households with 1,520 people, but Huaxi Village, supposedly the richest village in the People’s Republic, now has a skyscraper to call its own. Standing at 328 metres tall, Zengdi Kongzhong now counts among the tallest buildings in the world. (Shanghaiist)