10 June – 3 September 2006 China has become a mecca for the market economy where existing and completely new cities have grown into modern metropolises at a startlingpace. A group of young Chinese architects operates in the midst of these turbulent changes, a group that is seizing on the myriad possibilities and limitations in a critical and creative manner in its design practice. At the same time they are searching for pragmatic solutions for the discordant consequences of this large-scale and uncompromising urbanization process.
China Contemporary – Architecture, Art and Visual Culture is a joint initiative of the Netherlands Architecture Institute, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and the Nederlands fotomuseum. It is the first opportunity for the Netherlands to become acquainted with self-conscious and criticalcontemporary architecture of Chinese, and the series also transports the visitor into the world of art and visual culture of the People’s Republic.
The participating architects are Ai Weiwei (FAKE Design), Yung Ho Chang (Atelier Feichang Jianzhu), Chen Xudong (DAtrans), DeSHaus, Jingyu Liang (Approach Architecture Studio), Li Juchuan, Li Xiaodong Design Studio, Liu Jiakun (Jiakun Architect & Associates), Ma Qingyun (MADA s.p.a.m.), Zhu Xiaofeng (Scenic Architecture), Standardarchitecture, Tong Ming (TM Studio),Urbanus, Wang Hui and Yang Yang (NENO 2529 Design Group), Wang Lu,Wang Shu (Amateur Architecture Studio), Zhang Lei (Atelier Zhanglei) and Zhu Pei (Studio Peizhu). A “stream of images” created by the Crystal Image rendering bureau and work by artists, designers and researchers such as Jiang Jun (Underline Office), MAP Office, Ou Ning, Wang Jun, Wang Yiyang and Xu Tan provide a fitting context for the work of these architects.
