China decided to alter its policy considering super-tall buildings, halting the construction of copycat skyscrapers and limiting their maximum height.
Despite there has been a drop in Chinese skyscrapers construction in 2019, the high-building market is one of the most growing worldwide. The annual super-tall buildings constructed in China are 4 times more than those constructed in the United States, the second country with the most skyscrapers globally.
China currently has more than 2170 structures higher than 150 meters and 85 higher than 300 meters. The United States has 807 and 25 of similar buildings, respectively.
Nevertheless, a new policy that will be implemented by the Chinese Government may alter the current situation. In particular, according to a statement issued by China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, i) Buildings measuring more than 500 meters will be "generally" prohibited, ii) Building over 250 meters will be "strictly restricted" and those approved will be thoroughly monitored by officials and iii) Building "plagiarism" and "imitation" will be banned.
For the purpose of comparison, the Burj Khalifa, the taller building in the world in 828 meters while the Shanghai Tower, the second-taller worldwide stands at 632 meters.
Regarding the maximum height guideline, the release mentioned that the prohibition is "general" but if such a construction is deemed necessary it will be examined. "If special constructions are needed in various places, special demonstrations and strict examinations on fire protection, earthquake resistance, and energy saving should be carried out," the statement mentions. However, the specific factors that would enable the construction of such skyscrapers have not been released yet.
When it comes to the imitation policy, the release states that it will not only be implemented in tall buildings but also in other facilities including stores, stadiums, theaters and museums. This regulation is probably associated with the large number of buildings that were recently constructed in China and are practically replicas of structures in the rest of the world. Those include duplicates of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the London's Tower Bridge (which was modified to look more Chinese).
The reason behind the new regulations lies in the need to establish an architectural identity in the country. Designers need to create "economical, green, and beautiful" buildings that embody the spirit of the city, represent the style of the times, and highlight Chinese characteristics."
There has also been an instruction for local officials to thoroughly examine the approval cases of structures more than 100 meters considering the preservation of historical monuments and the natural environment.
Sources: Dezeen, Dailymail, NewAtlas
Sources: Dezeen, Dailymail, NewAtlas
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