

Yesterday, China’s central government released an urban planning blueprint designed to put an end to the countrywide scourge of “weird” architecture once and for all. Alas, nothing gold can stay.



SCMP reports that the government is pushing for structures that are “suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye,” while also calling for a moratorium on those that are “oversized, xenocentric, weird.”



The policy comes two months after the first Central Urban Work Conference since 1978 — arranged probably to tackle precisely the country’s epidemic of architectural tomfoolery — and a couple years on from President Xi’s own desperate plea. In Xi’s view, these “weird” attempts at architecture demonstrate “a lack of cultural confidence and some city officials’ distorted attitudes about political achievements.”



Liu Shilin, head of Shanghai’s Jiatong University’s Institute of Urban Science, also frowns on “weird” architectural constructs and praises the new city guidelines. “These buildings do not have much value in terms of use, and cost a lot to operate and maintain. Quite a few were torn down soon after completion,” Liu noted. “The policy is heading in a good direction.”



Garnering less public approval is the blueprint’s additional ban of gated communities. “Residents have all paid their share to use the roads in these communities,” protested one netizen. “How can you open them up just like that? Opening them up will bring in noise pollution, air pollution and security risks. How can residents’ safety and health be ensured?”



To mark this merciful yet tragic end to an important era in Chinese history, here are a few recent architectural oddities:











Also check out: Photos – China’s 10 ugliest buildings.

By Pinky Latt

[Images via CCTV]

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