If you have an eye for elegant and futuristic structural designs, then the Capital Museum in Beijing is the place for you to go. Renowned British architect Richard Rogers is holding an exhibition on his flagship designs there. They range from completed works like the Pompidou Centre in Paris to the works under construction like the Ningbo Gateway in China.
Every sublime structure begins as a concept on the drawing board. The exhibition shows these seeds of inspiration before they sprung into reality.
Their creator Richard Rogers is the winner of the Pritzker Prize in 2007, the world’s premier architecture award. One of his most proud works is the Pompidou Centre in Paris. It became an instant landmark for the city with its postmodern and High-Tech style.
He also gave me a tour of his plan of the Shanghai Pudong area. Though it was never built, it’s nevertheless a spectacular vision for managing the problems of traffic and environmental protection in giant metropolises.
Richard Rogers, Architect, said, "I was asked minimize the use of cars."
The exhibition is presented under seven architectural themes, legible, public, green, systems, transparent, urban and lightweight. These guiding principles are ingrained in every work. So it’s not hard to find an example that exemplifies multiple themes.
Stanley Lee, Beijing, said, "This build is a great example. Quite cool huh?"
Rogers is now working with Chinese architects on construction project across China to bring these concepts to fruition in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Visitors will have until November 18 to get a sneak peek of what will be built in the Capital Museum.