Ah, historically significant feats of architecture! Yes, you’re fine as you are, but perhaps China does it a little better. The new office building of the state-run Sixth Pharmaceutical (哈药六厂), a subsidiary of Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, is another testament to the peerless imitation skills of Chinese architects, who’ve shanzhai’d a Versailles-style palace laden with pools, gyms, and billiard rooms, all tinted in what we can only assume is imitation gold. The building is causing an online outrage against the unnecessary expenditure and extravagance of a government funded company. It seems that Versailles has a special je ne sais quoi for China’s nouveau riche, as air-conditioner tycoon Zhang Yue also recreated Versailles on his private estate in 2007. So, rather true to form, it looks like Sixth Pharmaceutical copied someone else’s copying move. Vive l’imitation de l’opulente objets français!

By Angela Ye

(Photos via Sina News.)



