As I wrote on one for my earlier posts, we can see as a debate is taking place, involving both architects and societies. I remember that, the day before of my undergraduate's exam of Contemporary Architecture, I watched a documentary about one of the most influential architects today, the dutch Rem Koolhaas.
It has been said then, that he complained about the state of the public investments in architecture's projects in the Western World, mainly Europe, but also United Stated over the last years. And not maybe related to current economic crisis, but an ever-growing number of restrictions for high-scale buildings. He then, talk about China as the solution. A rich country with strong wishes of modern public structures.
After being Pekin as the host city for 2008 Olympics, the asiatic giant started a running for making the appearance of the country as the top of world's technology. Some specific structures were built ad hoc, such as the great Beijing National Stadium (by the swiss company Herzog & de Meuron).
But also the public service needed a help to modernize its appearance. Then Koolhaas made one of his masterworks, the Headquarters of the Chinese Public Television. A very simple but also physically complex structure, playing with rect's deformation. The works started in 2004.
Should be looked on anything else? Yes, the architecture is being used again for propagandistic aims by undemocratic governments. And, as it seems, the role of the architect is far from the real world, just his job matters. I'd much prefer the typical nineteen century's bourgeois custom.
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