next »

[kitano]

I think it's all based on The Death Star. There is even a mall by the river here that looks like a crap version of it

[Fozzwaldus]

@NATO - funny, I noticed those the last time I was on the bus to Hangzhou... they cretainly stand out.

My colleagues scoffed at me, however, so perhaps you're right, they only look nice in the context of the drab ride into Hangzhou. Heaven on Earth my ass.

[BrandeX]

"Chinese"?



This is in fact the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, constructed 1974-76. It featured in many movies and tv shows, including Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. And this might quite possibly be the origin of my perception that the richer Chinese cities look "like Buck Rogers".

I vaguely think that's changing though. Available materials, maturity and purpose of designers... who knows?

My first thought was "no" actually. It seems like the majority of the building here are square shape on average.

[Escaped Lunatic]

I've seen a few round ones in China, but square is a lot more common.

Put in a few balconies with laundry hanging and then it would be Chinese.

[fullricebowl]

I live in the hutongs in Dongcheng- in an apartment complex. Back in the 70s they tore down the old houses in the area, moved the residents into apartments that took up half the area, and built another complex on the remaining land that people from other areas could move in to.

Most of the houses in the hutongs are not courtyard houses- they are small rooms with a bed, tv, and maybe a crude (or often shared) kitchen. Most people in these kinds of houses have to use a public toilet down the alley. At the same time- I think rent is pretty reasonable! I see them for rent for just over 1000rmb a month. I have some friends who are renting half a courtyard house (with their own toilet & courtyard- but a shared kitchen with another couple) for 6000 a month. The demographic in my area is pretty bizarre- old Beijing grandmas and grandpas, and foreigners. Very few 20-30yr old Chinese. A lot of people who grew up in that area- in those small houses- naturally view the bigger apartments (and private bathrooms)of the suburbs to be an upgrade from where they grew up. I have seen quite a few courtyard houses be re-constructed in my area though- and I can only imagine how much it costs to live in one!