For those of you who have been fortunate enough to visit or live in Asia, you’ll no doubt have been amazed at the pace by which the architecture and construction is progressing. Each property developer wants to “out-do” the last by going higher, embracing out-of the ordinary shapes, putting huge holes in the middle of their buildings (feng shui driven), using the most cutting edge materials and integrating the most innovative features. In my eyes Beijing is very much a different city to what it was just a year ago: Maybe I’m not as observant as I used to be, but every time I come to Beijing (which is normally monthly) it seems brand new skyscrapers have risen from the ground – and they are astonishing in every way. It’s a tough job recognizing where you are.
Perhaps one of the most astonishing experiences for a westerner when first arriving in Hong Kong are these enormously high glass buildings; the epitome of modern design and innovation – BUT they are shrouded in bamboo scaffolding – a construction method used since the “beginning of time”. It just seems odd, out of place, a bit prehistoric in this hub of a modern metropolis. Well it might look odd, but it is used with good reason.
Bamboo is strong, and lightweight, making it handy to build with but also offering flexibility against high winds – which in a country such as Hong Kong where Typhoons are common, is a pretty important feature. Bamboo also has many wonderful feng shui properties, which is an advantage if you’re concerned about evil spirits and 60 floors above street level.
This photo was taken by one of my colleagues outside our old office in Central (Hong Kong), what you can’t see from this shot are the buses that passed within inches of the bottom of the scaffold structure – Thanks Benson
This is the new(ish) Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. Jack Morton Worldwide proudly produced the opening launch event for this property, for which the bamboo scaffolding and netting had thankfully been removed.
It is interesting to watch the workers build one, and it is even more fun to watch them disassemble one especially if it shrouds the whole building because they would pass each bamboo stick down by relay, sometimes letting it free fall to their co-worker below to catch. Consider that in a environment where hard hats and steel toe-caps are an optional extras. That said, Hi-Visibility jackets seem to be very much in fashion nowadays.
Next time – delivering an event in China (and yes the photo below is of a real delivery to a Jack Morton produced event!! - Thanks again Benson)
Comments (1)
There is something about the simple, natural composition of bamboo which keeps Asia grounded in its roots (pun intended). Far too often, Western (in particular) societies work tirelessly to create better, more robust, harder, faster, cheaper, stronger, fancier, hipper....solutions. Sometimes keeping it simple, keeping it real, and keeping it up is all that is needed for success.
Posted by Denise Cannon on March 8, 2007 11:25 PM