Fake Hills

The ultra-rapid urban development of both traditional and modern Chinese cities has stimulated new iconic objects such as stadiums, museums, theaters to appear. However, to create expressive residential domestic architecture that is equally cost-effective and artistically innovative is still a rare thing within Chinese real life. That is why one should pay special attention to the pretty bold and extremely bright design of the “Fake Hills” residential neighborhood that was created by the Chinese company MAD studio. Even under design it has already became eligible as the major architectural landmark of the city.

Currently most part of residential architecture in China consists of lapidary unified towers made from cheap materials that are meant to quickly return what was invested in them and that substantially de-personalize the urban environment. Such an approach has a negative effect on the ideas of creating a unique location that is specific in its own nature and leads to the de-humanization of the new building. In its draft MAD offered an original combination of the Western technical perfection and the Eastern harmonious interaction with the nature.

Located within the coastal line of the town of Beihai the Fake Hills project is based on a narrow piece of land that spreads along the water; the size of its territory is 109 203 square meters. The total area of the complex will constitute 492 369 square meters; whereas the varied greens will cover more than one third (38.6%) of the total territory under development. The project includes two elongated 99-meter residential plates and a vertical part of the complex that is 184 meters high. This takes after the fact that in modern China there exist 2 main types of residential buildings. Residential high-rise towers and skyscrapers are considered to belong to type 1; whereas horizontally elongated multi-storey structures are classified as type 2.

The “Fake Hills” project in Northern Bay of Beihai (Northern Bay One) spreads over a considerable part of the city coastline and marks a new stage in the city’s residential development and improvement of its territory. In 2012 this project was acknowledged at the best in the country and received 2012 Best Architecture Multiple Residence award. The project team under the general supervision of Ma Yansong and Qun Dang that was in charge of the large-scale plan consisted of 10 more architects: Xue Yan, Xu Dongxin, Wang Wei, Tang Liu, Zhang Jie, Ren Xiaowei, Kristie Park, Dinah Zhang, Fernie Lai, Fu Changr, Zheng Tao. The engineering and design stages of the project were carried out by Jiang Architects & Engineers (JAE). The designing began in 2008 and the construction was planned to be over in 2011. However, temporary technical issues occur even in incredibly rapidly developing Chinese cities. Therefore, the construction of “Fake Hills” has got a little delayed and it is only now that it is nearing completion.

According to the perception of the authors of the complex the traditional and deeply rooted principle of Chinese architecture is harmony and unity with nature. That is why one should consider the general philosophy and aesthetics of the “Fake Hills” complex within the concept of bio-architecture. Living in manmade gardens and at the same time comfortable modern houses is the way to make the dream of a perfect future come true; and it can be realized even today!

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Text by MARIANNA SMIRNOVA;
Material provided by MAD Architects