Anthony Bourdain's PARTS UNKOWN starts new season

In 'Parts Unknown,' Anthony Bourdain is not a man on a mission

One of my favorite show on television is the erudite, evocative, mouth-watering, multi-dimensional Emmy-award winning CNN series, Parts Unknown, hosted by Anthony Bourdain.  Tonight, the series begins it's second season of focusing on Shanghai, a place that I long to visit because of the staggering amount of very tall skyscrapers.

This show is about food, but it transform each week to an amazing educational and informative sociology and anthropological documentary on cultures throughout the world.

Watch CNN trailer here for the Shanghai trailer:    click here.

It's difficult to watch the show because makes my mouth water.  And it makes me fill smarter for having watched it.  I am so amazed at the ability of a show which is essentially for "foodies" that is so talented it transcends to a remarkable social commentary and travelogue.

More, Mr. Bourdain!!!!

Chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain arrives at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California September 15, 2013.

CREDIT: REUTERS/JONATHAN ALCORN

Shanghai and Dubai are really becoming the most interesting cities in the world, architecturally and in other ways.   See more of my previous blog entries on Shanghai and Dubai by clicking here.

Well HELLO gorgeous: new building in SUZHOU, CHINA

A new gorgeous building, "Gate of the Orient", is under construction in Sozhou.   It's been criticized by some who say it looks like a pair of pants (As per the Daily Mail : "Architectural triumphs or just plain pants?:  China's latest superstructures resemble a giant pair of long johns… "(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gate_to_the_East) .

Others have praised it.

I fall into the later category.  I think it is elegant.  How about you?

The new skyscraper which will top out at 980 ft. (74 floors) is currently under construction in China.    Here's a photo of building under construction from 2012.   Architecture (and all photos) by RMJM an international.  RMJM's, an international architectural firm, work encompasses architecture, sustainable design, urban planning, and master planning http://www.rmjm.com/profile/ .

New TALLEST building in China

Gorgeous, isn't it.   Very elegant and shapely.  Shanghai Tower, eponymously named, just topped out a few days ago in China and now is the tallest building in Asia.

At 2,073ft (632 metre) structure, Shanghai Tower stands in the city’s Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, beside the Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center.   It is the tallest building in Asia and the second-tallest building in the world, after 2,716.5ft-tall Burj Khalifa.

Perhaps even more impressive than the structure’s height will be its form. The semi-transparent building twists as it rises – its spiralling form is meant to reduce wind load by 24 per cent during typhoons. Designers claim the curve is also meant to “symbolise the dynamic emergence of modern China.”

An undulating, curving tower, this will become the tallest of many planned curved or spiraling skyscrapers in the works around the world (see previous blog entries:  http://markgsmusings.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-want-to-live-in-this-cool-building.html and http://markgsmusings.blogspot.com/2009/08/those-dubai-dudes-are-really-amazing.html).

Shanghai Tower is the creation of US-based architectural firm Gensler, whose other developments include Houston’s Hess Tower and Farmers Field in Los Angeles. The 121-story building will include offices, numerous entertainment venues, retail units, a conference centre, cultural attractions and a luxury hotel.

The building will be joined by a number of other Chinese record breakers in time. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat last year found that nine of the 20 tallest buildings currently under construction worldwide were being built in China. Last month it was announced that construction of what would be the world’s tallest building (see earlier blog:  http://markgsmusings.blogspot.com/2013/07/chinas-proposed-new-tallest-building-in.html) had begun in Changsha in China’s Hunan province.

Construction on the building was begun in 2008.   That means that the construction of the future tallest building in the world that I discussed a couple of days ago (click here: http://markgsmusings.blogspot.com/2013/07/chinas-proposed-new-tallest-building-in.html) is all the more remarkable, because, assuming it is built, as proposed, would be completed in just months.   This really interesting photo study of the construction process is fascinating.    Particularly the photo which shows the framework built to create the exterior shape.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ultratravel/the-next-big-thing/10231608/Shanghais-new-landmark-Chinas-tallest-building.html

CHINA'S proposed NEW TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD--construction postponed

China is an architectural powerhouse.  The proposed Sky City will knock Burj Khalifa in Dubai to second place in the tallest buildings in the world.  When it is completed remarkably in just months according to construction firm Broad Sustainable Building Technology using pre-fabricated components that slot together to complete construction so rapidly.  This is an astonishing short period of time, considering it took approximately six years to complete the Burj.

Construction had begun until recently when it was stopped construction due to lack of government approval.

Sky City will be located in Changsha in central China.  It will be 2,749ft tall (838 metres) surpassing the Burj Khalif by 27ft in height (2,722 ft, 830).  Once completed the 220-story (the Burj has 163-stories) structure will  include schools, a hospital, office facilities, 17 helipads and apartments for over 30,000 people.  Of the total space available, nearly 83% will be for residential purposes. 5% will be for the hotel housing 1000, while 3% each will be dedicated to schools, hospitals, offices and shops.

Broad has already constructed 20 buildings in China using this new methodology of pre-fabrication.  According to the company, 95% of Sky City will be built in Broad's factory before any excavation takes place at the construction site.

Sources:

http://archinect.com/news/article/78369996/sky-city-world-s-tallest-building-stops-construction-due-to-lack-of-government-approval

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_City

http://www.dezeen.com/2013/07/31/worlds-tallest-building-update/

China is really KNOCKING out some STUNNING architecture these DAYS

http://www.designboom.com/architecture/mad-architects-sheraton-huzhou-hot-spring-resort/

New Sheraton hotel in Huzhou (near Shanghai) China.   This stunning simple design, which reflects the new non-linear, geometric structures that I love in today's contemporary architecture (Gehry, Hadid, etc).

This is elegant.  It is beautiful.  It is proportional.

The 27-story Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort offers 321 spacious guest rooms, including 44 suites and 39 villas(1) on Lake Taihu.   

This stunning design features a horizontal exterior facade that accentuates the horseshoe shape and makes for a stunning piece of sculpture when lit at night or reflected in the lake's waters below.  

The hotel is designed by Beijing-born architect Ma Yanson, MAD Architects. (3)  What an astonishing portfolio of incredible designs and completed structures.   Visit their website for more (MAD Architects).

The interior design in the interior public spaces seems a bit outré?   Very opulent.   But maybe a bit too Vegas-ish.   Or to be kinder, Dubai-ish.

However hotel rooms are quite lovely. 

All rooms have a balcony.  Note the exterior facade.

A suite with balcony which shows the exterior facade.  Note circular design of the room

This is really a beautiful new building.  

The exterior public spaces reflect the beauty of the building, as shown. 

According to Daily News Huzhou is:  "Known as 'The City of Silk', the ancient metropolis is situated on the southern shores of Lake Taihu in the northern part of Zheijang Province. It is hailed as the birthplace of the Far East's famous tea culture." (2) 

The charm of the local city--Huzhou's Water Village.

A beautiful sunset on Lake Taihu

(1)  Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2376911/Sheraton-Huzhou-Hot-Spring-Resort-gigantic-glowing-doughnut-hotel-China.html#ixzz2a1neeCA1 
(2)  Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2376911/Sheraton-Huzhou-Hot-Spring-Resort-gigantic-glowing-doughnut-hotel-China.html#ixzz2a1uiKHiO 
(3)  Credits and Info:
Architect: MAD Architect Co., Ltd.,
Associate Engineers: Shanghai SianDai Architecture Design (Group) Co., Ltd.,
Structural Engineer: China Majesty Steel Structural Design Co., Ltd.,
Façade/Cladding Consultants: Zhejiang Zhongnan Curtain Wall Co., Ltd., Shanghai Timalco Curtain Wall Engineering Co., Ltd.,
Landscape Architect: EDSA – Landscape Design
http://www.arch2o.com/sheraton-huzhou-hot-spring-resort-mad-architects/

CHINESE company plans to BUILD world's TALLEST SKYSCRAPER

A construction company yesterday revealed plans to build the world's tallest skyscraper, called Sky City, which will stand 2,749ft tall and have a phenomenal 220 floors. This half-mile high superstructure will be 32ft taller than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai - the current tallest building - and is expected to cost almost half as much.

Sky City will be Changsha in southeast China and is being designed by Chinese-based Broad Group. It will house 17,400 people and also boast hotels, hospitals, schools and office space with occupants using 104 high-speed lifts to get around.

What's even more amazing is that it will only take three months to construct will mean nine of the 10 tallest skyscrapers in the world are in Asia. This astonishing pace of construction, which will see five stories go up a day, is the result of a revolutionary method of prefabricated buildings where blocks are built off site and slotted together to save time.

Despite concerns about its structural rigidity, Broad Group says the half-mile high building will be able to withstand a magnitude 9.0 earthquake. They've also tested their method of prefabrication having built last year 30-storey tower in 15 days.

Article by Damien Gayle, Daily Mail. Click here to read

Photos copyright of Broads/SWIN.com

COOL PHOTO TIME Picture of the Week

Gao Zengshuang / Xinhua / ZUMA
Finally, Time has recently had some pictures that are interesting to post. Isn't this gorgeous?

WINTER WONDERLAND
Tourists walk around one of the displays at the Ice and Snow Festival during its preview in Harbin, China.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/picturesoftheweek/0,29409,1950092_2017286,00.html#ixzz0aiww18R1

I want to live in this cool building

MAD Architects Unveil Urban Forest Skyscraper For China by Bridgette Meinhold, 12/1/09, www.inhabitat.com

"Inspired by mountainous Chinese landscapes and the traditional villages built their hillsides, MAD Architects has unveiled plans to create a towering vertical Urban Forest. Designed for Chongqing, China, the projects consists of a stacked vertical forest set in the heart of the city, designed to bring more nature and open space in a dense and compact way. MAD Architects is becoming more known for their sustainable designs, and hopefully the green design aspects of this new tower extend beyond the garden spaces on each floor."



The excerpt and photos above are from http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/12/01/mad-architects-unveil-urban-forest-skyscraper-for-china/.

This architecture firm has some really interesting designs. Check out another blog list on inhabitat for MAD's proposed design of a Taiwanese civic center (below): http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/09/25/mad-unveils-taichung-convention-center-with-solar-eco-skin/

Visit an earlier blog post about another similar building design, The Dynamic Building, by clicking here: http://markgsmusings.blogspot.com/2009/08/those-dubai-dudes-are-really-amazing.html

This building, which was to have been built in Dubai (not sure if that will happen now) will rotate and will be constantly changing its shape unlike the China skyscraper which I think will be static. But the varying shapes of the floors are very similar. I'd like to live in either of these buildings actually.

China and UAE are definitely the places to be these days, architecturally speaking. I still think that Dubai is one of the modern wonders of the world, despite all of the recent press about their financial difficulties. They at least have something historic and noble to show for it.

GORGEOUS new building in China--what a wonderful structure

No, this is not a new dirigible! It's a new building. There's some really interesting architecture coming out China these days, particularly in preparation for the Olympics. This is a gorgeous structure, no?

Jason Lee / Reuters

People's Theater

The National Grand Theater in central Beijing, is lit by colored lights in readiness for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October. (TIME Today in Pictures Thursday, September 17, 2009)