Continuing my theme of artists and architects. It is well-known that Ai Weiwei was involved in the creation of the “Bird’s Nest” structure for the Beijing Olympics. In my most recent trip to Zhong Biao’s studio, I find that he, too, has invested in architectual building software and is “advising” on, if not flat out creating, designs for structures himself. In this case, it is a small development on the banks of the Lake Erhai in Yunnan Province. The lake is increasingly trendy recreational spot, particularly for cultural producers in the Southwest. Here a typical photo:
Zhong Biao was kind enough to share with me the current version of his work on the project. At the moment, it appears as follows:
I find most intriguing are the glass cubes which occupy the top floor and center of the structure. The same from another vantage point:
shows how one could pass beneath the glass-encolsed sitting area. Another intriguing question is how the structure would function (as far as I can tell the developers are still wrestling with this issue). The children and dog in foreground of second image (no doubt selections from a template provided with the program) would suggest (perhaps?) single-family? The various configurations of chairs and tables, meanwhile, suggest outdoor cafes, or other types of recreational spaces.