2009/03/--

Reiko Chikada Lighting Design Inc. went on a study tour in Beijing from February 28 to March 3. There, we could experience first-hand the current transition of the city with fierce frenzy of redevelopment.

The dynamic volume of the National Stadium and the National Swimming center, the unique form of the CCTV Headquarters which is called "pants" by the local tour guides, and the domed National Center for the Performing Arts called "EGG" were absolutely the new landmarks of the city.

Our concerns about the harmonization of the new architectures with the historical city were gone as soon as we saw the buildings for ourselves. Beijing is as large as Shikoku of Japan and the center area itself is very large. All the new architectures completed by the Olympic Game fit in the city with other high-rise buildings built before 2008.

The local guide told us that, rather, he feels that "Hutong", the traditional Chinese are, doesn't fit to the current city. The government owns the lands of this historical area, but the proprietary rights of the traditional Chinese-stye residences called "siheyuan" belong to the residents, and those values are increasing.

The siheyuan seems humble at a glance, but they are owned by the rich. Now, the city authorities are working on the conservation of the historical residences and streetscape.

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