The Egg is Hatched
Beijing’s controversial Grand Theatre set for public debut.
Seven years after construction began on a site close to Tiananmen Square, work on Beijing’s US$420 million Grand Theatre is finally complete. Persistently dogged by delays, the “Eggshell”, as it has been dubbed by many, is scheduled to host its first live performance at the end of December.
Ever since French architect Paul Andreu’s plans emerged for the futuristic building in the heart of China’s ancient capital, the project has been mired in financial and aesthetic controversy. Back in the late nineties the design was so radical, in fact, that it took four years of deliberation among the country’s policy makers before the foundations could even be laid. Construction started in April 2000, but was suspended almost immediately as opposition to the project mounted in academic, engineering and architectural circles.
The enormous glass and titanium structure, covering nearly 150,000 square meters, has been listed among the top 10 architectural designs by US-based journal Business Week for its energy-saving and environmentally friendly design. However, many Beijingers have christened the complex an “alien egg”, or even a “giant turd”, thoughtlessly deposited opposite the Forbidden City, one of China’s architectural marvels and the country’s most revered landmark.
Aside from concerns about location and appearance, and how the glass dome and large moat surrounding it will stand up to the wear and tear of Beijing’s harsh aerial environment, the building has also been lampooned for its questionable feng shui. The entrance, through a glass tunnel beneath the moat, is more evocative of a traditional tomb than an opera house.
The Chinese government has spent a fortune giving Beijing a citywide makeover prior to the Olympics, constructing a whole series of high profile buildings designed by foreign “starchitects”. This has raised concerns among Chinese architects and locals that Beijing has become a playground for overseas building designers to indulge their fantasies on incongruous and overly expensive projects.
Although the original budget for the theatre was set at RMB 2.68 billion (around US$325 million), the final bill is likely to be around $100 million more than anticipated. Back in 2005 a roofing manufacturer involved in the project had to sue four construction firms for over 36 million RMB (US$4.35 million) in unpaid bills, which further disrupted construction.
Paul Andreu is widely acclaimed for his design of Paris’s elegant Charles de Gaulle Airport and the new Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile. The French architect first gained fame for designing a host of airports across the globe, and in addition to the grand Theater, his list of works in China now include airports in Shanghai and Sanya, as well as the new Guangzhou Stadium.
Commenting on some recent positive reviews for his latest brainchild, Andreu says, “Many Chinese and foreigners had much to say during the building process, especially during the construction phase of the National Grand Theater, when the exterior was covered up. As the building emerged, people seemed surprised, smiled a lot, even before it was completely open. Of course I had faith in my work so I was not surprised to see such reactions.”
Other innovative architectural projects around Beijing which are on track for pre-Olympic completion are the Olympic Stadium or Bird’s Nest, and Rem Koolhaas’s CCTV tower. Let’s hope Beijing’s aerial pollution problem doesn’t wreck the party.
Olympic Stadium / Bird’s Nest
CCTV Tower
All above images by Daniel Allen
Next week CScout will talk to Handel Lee, renowned bon vivant, trendsetter and lawyer-turned-designer responsible for Shanghai’s impressive Three on the Bund complex, who is now heavily involved with Beijing’s upmarket Legation Quarter project.
Handel Lee
Image source: Time Blog’s China Blog