Demand of Architects in China...

[KaiMcCoy]

I have moved back from China to Australia to study for my Bachelor of Architectural Design. However once i'm done (in 4 years), I have every intention of moving back to China and opening my firm. Would anybody know whether Architects are in demand in China, because the locals always tell me "China is still developing" and it's true, I can see that... and I want to be there to help. At the moment, I am thinking I will work closely with residential (domestic) design, and then if all goes well I will head back to Aus and study for my Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning (another 4 years) and take it that one step further. I have been living in Heilongjiang for the last 2 years and that far North doesn't seem like the place to find too many architects so if I set my rate at a decent price, I think I might be able to get some business and help Heilongjiang out at the same time.

Well thanks in advance for any feedback I may get, and take care.

凯

[Lu]

Logic tells me that China needs architects as much as any other country, and that it also has architects, who are mostly Chinese. I think the question is not so much whether China needs architects, but whether you are willing to work for a Chinese salary.

Either way, good luck.

[gato]

These two articles about Xintiandi in Shanghai might be interesting to you:

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/12/26/051226crsk_skyline

Shanghai Surprise

The radical quaintness of the Xintiandi district.

by Paul Goldberger

The principal architect of Xintiandi is, not surprisingly, an American: Benjamin Wood, who once worked for Benjamin Thompson, the designer of Quincy Market. (Wood recently relocated from Boston to Shanghai.)

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/09/10/shanghai_building_boom_pits_architects_of_east_vs_west/

Shanghai building boom pits architects of East vs. West

Old district gets high-rise design

By Jehangir S. Pocha, Globe Correspondent | September 10, 2006

[KaiMcCoy]

Yeah I know what you mean, but its just an enquiry for now however I do intend on starting my own small firm once I move over there and get settled back in. I've worked in China before and know that salaries are dramatically different but I don't mind, its not about the money for me. Thanks for your input Lu, Take care.

[KaiMcCoy]

Thanks Gato, every piece of information helps. I am actually really disgusted with this guy "Ben"... he wanted to make Shanghai look more "European"... who made him God? China is one of the few countries left with standing traditional buildings and he wants to go knock them down to put in malls and bars. Reading that REALLY makes me want to get over there ASAP and take it back to what it's supposed to be. As a soon to be architect and lover of everything Chinese, I can assure anyone who reads this (and might feel the same way about what these people are doing to China) that I don't intend to change China to my likings... I'll do everything in my power to change it back to the way that the locals prefer it... and if it hasn't been demolished yet, I'll physically stand in the way so it won't happen.

As you can tell, I'm not pleased at all with this guy's attempt to make China better so for what its worth, on behalf of every other Western architect that feels the same way as me... I apologise.

And yes I know that this thread went in a complete opposite direction that I expected so again, I apologise.

Take care.

[adrianlondon]

You may be full of ideas, but the people (such as myself) who like more traditional buildings aren't the ones buying the land, moving the people off it, and hiring architectural firms to "make a statement and flash some wealth" when building their new China HQ.

[KaiMcCoy]

That's unfortunate but true, however there have been words spoken here in Aus to work with Chinese town planners and traditionally develop some of the rural area north of Beijing by building residential, working and shopping facilities up there for the people who are practically kicked out of their house to make way for that new Walmart or whatever. If those plans turn to reality and go through, I'm definately going to be a part of whether I'm qualified or not...

[gato]

You might be interested in these architecture and city planning books I got recently. The first one about traditional Chinese houses (with lots of photos) is particularly good.

http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=9242081

中国气质·大宅第

http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=9258334

留住我国建筑文化的记忆

http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=9183199

城市化发展与文化遗产保护

http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=9222956

都市水乡朱家角

[KaiMcCoy]

Gato... u are a legend, you know that don't you? lol Since you brought up the word books, would you (or anyone else) know of any decent ebooks on chinese architecture? Just the titles will do, I don't expect too much off you guys, I don't want to be a leecher. I have a few already, I actually prefer ebooks over physical books mainly because of the inconvenience of taking them around with me... its so much easier to carry a USB Thanks again Gato, I can see you must be loved in these forums. Take care.

[imron]

he wanted to make Shanghai look more "European"

Because the bund is somehow not European enough?

and take it back to what it's supposed to be

What exactly is it supposed to be? 10 families all sharing the same public toilet? That's how it used to be. Did you ever stop to think whether or not Chinese locals will want to be part of your 'authentic china' zoo?

Don't get me wrong, I understand your point, and the frustration at seeing all these wonderful old buildings being knocked down, but you need to remember that Chinese people want to modernise too, and part of that modernisation comes at a cost that many Chinese are more than willing to pay.

[KaiMcCoy]

First off... if you read on a couple of lines down, I explain what "the way its supposed to be" is.... I think my exact words were "the way the locals prefer it"...

Have you looked at a map lately? I'm pretty sure China isn't a part of Europe... Sure no one wants to be crammed up in a toilet cubicle with 9 other people of both sexes... but how hard is it to just change a design to accomodate what really needs to change... there's no need to spend millions of dollars and change the whole city to make it look like another country just to so people can come over and visit your so-called zoo...

And when I said "the way its supposed to be", I meant the buildings, I'm not talking about the people who live in them, nor am I talking about their daily activities...

And just to add... yes I have PERSONALLY asked the locals whether they would rather live in China with access to modern facilities or live in China, lose everything that looks the slightest bit Chinese and live in Europe... (exact words)... I worked as both a media broadcaster in a radio station and also as a teacher, so these topics came up and I was right there to hear what they really thought. All the feedback we got was not from just one generation... it was from both young and old...

[imron]

but how hard is it to just change a design to accomodate what really needs to change

Actually it's pretty hard when the population of these cities is greater than that of many countries. Beijing is already a sprawling mess, and if everyone lived in courtyard buildings that were just renovated with modern conveniences, it would cover the size of Hebei.

Over the years, I've also had conversations about this topic with people from all sorts of backgrounds, and my thoughts on this matter have been shaped by what people have told me. I guess it really depends how you frame the question. If you ask them if they want to "lose everything that looks the slightest bit Chinese", then of course they will say no. However having a modern apartment doesn't equate to losing everything Chinese. Also, do you think that the Chinese people are being forced to live in modern apartments against their will, simply because all the hutongs have been knocked down? I'm sure that's the case for some people, but there are also others who prefer how things are now.

I mean why should Chinese not be allowed to have supermarkets and things like that? Just so you and other foreigners can come and admire all the quaint, Chinesey looking buildings?

I think my exact words were "the way the locals prefer it"...

There are plenty of locals who prefer modern buildings too. They see it as a sign that China is modernising and progressing.

[KaiMcCoy]

Its not about us foreigners wanting to go look at "Chinesey looking buildings", its the fact that 90% of the Chinese community don't have a say in any of these matters... they don't have a voice when their house is going to be destroyed so an American company can expand... And again, i'm not talking about whether the locals are allowed to have shopping centres or not... but why put them where perfectly good traditional buildings stand already? You do realise that once they all get knocked down... there's no more right? You can try and build ones that "look" traditional... but they weren't built back in the "Chinesey" days. So my point is, foreigners are coming in and literally knocking the culture down for their financial benefit. If it were local Chinese architects making these decisions on their own, I would not be wasting my time debating this.

[tony1343]

I just looked at a map and contrary to what schools in the U.S., China, and many European countries (but not Russia if I understand correctly) teach, yes China is on the same continent as Germany, England, etc .... Eurasia or whatever you want to call it. I can't see any geographical or logical reason for them to be two continents (other than politics, culture, or history). Wait, actually it is Afro-Eurasia.

Heck, I think South American learn there is just one America. Makes sense to me, though there is at least a better argument for two Americas than a Europe and an Asia.

So hell I say there are four continents. Afro-Eurasia, America, Australia and Antarctica.

And thousands of years ago when the the sea levels where lower there were only three, since there was Afro-Eurasia-America (and if we go back further we can get to one).

[rabbitcookies]

Check this website out if you want:

abbs.com.cn

[KaiMcCoy]

Tony... you have completely turned this all around... quit trying to be specific with your theories, China is a part of Asia and thats it. This thread has turned into somewhat of a warzone... I'm leaving this post alone... and Rabbit, thanks for that site

[AxelManbow]

Friend, just graduated from an Architecture undergraduate course in a local university. Works in Shenyang for 5000 per month. Not a bad salary in that city for a fresh graduate. In two years time he'll probably be on double, not to mention insider knowledge regarding real estate purchases.

I think it is like many professions: good graduates in in-demand fields do well financially.

[KaiMcCoy]

Thanks Axel, finally an informative reply to my original post. I appreciate your input and that's actually very helpful. Thanks again.