Let my contribution to the expanding body of “Chinese Economic Bubble” literature/postings be the following observation: commercial rents on Shanghai’s Hengshan Road have – over the last twelve weeks – quadrupled and even quintupled in value, forcing vacancies that are unlikely to be filled at the new prices. For those who don’t know it (most…
All posts in Architecture
The Requiem Concluded With Jasmine Flowers
Posted on Author AdamPosted in Appreciations and Recommendations, Architecture, Catholicism2 Replies
It is likely that last night’s performance of Motzart’s Requiem marks the first time that a philharmonic orchestra has ever played inside of Shanghai’s century-old St. Ignatius Cathedral. The calculus is rather simple: prior to 1949, there was no philharmonic to play in the cathedral; after 1949, and especially after 1951, it was difficult enough…
The Great Man Theory of Eating
[Alternative Title: “You Picked a Fine Time to Feed Me, Beijing“] A little quiz. On the verge of the Olympics, Beijing opens one of the largest, and most architecturally uplifting, airport terminals in the world. In an effort to improve guest services, the airport authority invites outside vendors – Starbucks, KFC, TCBY(!) – to set…
Avoid Tall Buildings.
[3/13 addendum at end of post] Like many expats, I’ve long been suspicious of the building materials utilized in Shanghai’s – and China’s – two-decade construction boom. The concrete, I’ve noticed, seems to crack too quickly; the rebar inside of that concrete has an uncanny tendency to rust and emerge from that cracking concrete too…
In Memoriam: The Shanghai Astronomical Observatory
Posted on Author AdamPosted in Appreciations and Recommendations, Architecture, Catholicism, Expat Life3 Replies
Via Shanghaiist we learn that the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory is relocating to Anji, in Zhejiang Province due to light pollution. The only surprise in this news is that it didn’t happen sooner: even on clear nights, a person can count on two hands the number of stars bright enough to shine in Shanghai’s heavily illuminated…
Rem’s CCTV – Construction Update
[UPDATE 3/25: This post continues to generate hits, months after I first made it. So, since I’m in Beijing, here’s a new photo as of today. It become ever more impressive and imposing: [UPDATE 11/19: Visitors looking for a more recent photo of the under-construction CCTV building in Beijing, click over to this fine image…