PICTURE OF THE DAY

Coop Himmelb(l)au's Museum Of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition, Shenzen, China (2007-2010)
Source: Silkroad Digital TechnologyCoop Himmelb(l)au has unveiled new images of two projects in China.
The first is a scheme for two museums – one of contemporary art, the other of architecture and city planning.
Coop Himmelb(l)au described the building as " a dynamic monolith", serving as a focus point at the new Futian Cultural District element of Shenzen's masterplan.
The second is the Dalian International Conference Centre. In August last year Coop Himmelb(l)au beat practices including Zaha Hadid Architects to win a competition to the centre, which will create a 100,000 sq m building housing a conference centre, an opera house, and an exhibition centre.

Wolf D. Prix, Principal of Coop Himmelb(l)au described the centre as “an idea to create a 'small city' composed of conference- and performance-rooms under a single shell-like roof."
Referring to the building's sustainability credentials, he said: "Our building was planned upon sustainable principles; for example an elaborate climate concept that comprises the usage of seawater for cooling will generate a 30% energy saving."

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Readers' comments (9)
I don´t get this. The world is entering the worst economic downturn. China is on the verge of social revolt (20 mill. are already unemployed per todaday and the numbers are rapidly rising). Yet we see these "starchitects" churning out "dynamic monoliths" under mantra of sustainability. What is the point in all this?
I wish they'd finally make up their minds if they want that "L" or not.
Sorry, that should have been Ra(l)ph Kent.
Sorry, but this looks like another example of gratuitous shape making on a computer. Digital architecture is now within easy reach of so many, so architecture, (if there is such a thing any more), becomes a collection of loosely assembled b-spline surfaces and non-rational curves or parametrically modeled variables. Hadid, OMA etc are some of the the worst "bleeding edge" culprits, fueled by attention seeking developing countries such as Dubai and China. Whereas Dubai has imploded, China seems bent on carrying on regardless.
Let´s be candid here. This is so utterly irrelevant. Architects should fundamentally rethink the way they approach and design their projects. The hey days of inane icons is gone. Back to basics now... As for that undulating "thing"... Is it Hadid?
Imagination is essential to the human spirit. But so is the concept of sharing and with sharing comes restraint/humility. It seems that in this prevailing global climate the restraint of some affords the decadance of a hell bent section of society. Fortunately all this does is show up those with disregard to be the tossers that they are being. This is not a case anymore of "they can DO that! Wow, well good on them". I agree with flytoget, a building of this type of indulgence does not make sense in this context.
Irrelevant glamorous fantasies seem to have taken over sanity in architecture i wonder how long will this 'kneejerk reaction' last in this age of global recession
Irrellevant glamourous fantasies help me get through the long winter nights too. But then again mine dont cost anything
it's sexy. end of story oh its also reflective