China’s $1BN Skyscraper Mistake

Summary

The Shanghai World Financial Center tells the story of China’s rapid rise as a global superpower through its skyscrapers. The design of this iconic building, originally featuring a circular void symbolizing the heavens, sparked cultural controversy in China due to its resemblance to a Japanese flag. After public outcry, the design was changed to a square. Despite facing numerous challenges, the building was completed in 2008, contributing to Shanghai's skyline and symbolizing the country's rapid urbanization. The video reflects on the architectural, cultural, and economic forces that shaped modern China.

Takeaways

• 😀 Skyscrapers are powerful symbols that transcend their physical construction, representing both engineering feats and cultural significance.
• 😀 William Pettison's design for the Shanghai World Financial Center was inspired by the combination of two symbolic shapes: a square representing Earth and a circle symbolizing the heavens.
• 😀 The building’s circular design was meant to reflect ancient Chinese symbolism and was also functional, as it helped with wind flow stability during storms.
• 😀 China's rapid urbanization in the 1990s and early 2000s led to a construction boom, with more than eight times the number of skyscrapers built in China compared to the U.S. over the same period.
• 😀 Despite initial approval, the circular design of the Shanghai World Financial Center faced backlash from the Chinese public, who perceived it as resembling a Japanese flag, due to historical sensitivities from World War II.
• 😀 The controversy led to a redesign of the building in 2005, where the circular void at the top was replaced with a square, accommodating both engineering needs and cultural concerns.
• 😀 The 1997 Asian financial crisis caused a temporary halt in construction, affecting the Shanghai World Financial Center and other major skyscrapers under construction at the time.
• 😀 The events of 9/11 had a lasting impact on global skyscraper design, particularly influencing new building codes and the introduction of refuge floors in China.
• 😀 The SWFC, while initially designed to be the tallest building in the world, ultimately lost the title to the Burj Khalifa, which surpassed its height by completing in 2010.
• 😀 Despite not becoming the tallest building globally, the Shanghai World Financial Center holds the distinction of being one of the tallest buildings by roof height and occupied floors, and it became a key part of Shanghai’s skyline.
• 😀 The building’s unique shape earned it the nickname ‘the bottle opener’ by locals, further emphasizing how architecture becomes integrated with the identity of a city.
• 😀 Shanghai’s skyline is now home to several super-tall buildings, including the SWFC, which is adjacent to the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai Tower, forming the world’s first grouping of three super-tall skyscrapers.

Q & A

What was the pivotal question faced by architect William Pettison in Shanghai?

The pivotal question was the difference between a circle and a square, which ultimately led to a significant redesign of a skyscraper.

Why did construction on the Shanghai World Financial Center halt for redesign?

The construction was halted because the design originally featured a circular opening at the top of the building, which was seen as problematic due to cultural sensitivities related to its resemblance to a Japanese flag.

How did China’s rapid urbanization influence the design of the Shanghai World Financial Center?

China's urbanization and rapid economic growth created a need for large office spaces and skyscrapers, especially in Shanghai, which sought to position itself as an international business hub.

What is the significance of the circular opening in the original design of the Shanghai World Financial Center?

The circular opening symbolized the heavens, referencing Chinese architectural traditions, and was designed to allow wind to pass through, improving the building’s stability during storms.

Why did the Shanghai public oppose the original circular design of the Shanghai World Financial Center?

The public viewed the circular design as resembling a Japanese flag, which stirred up historical sensitivities due to Japan’s occupation of China during World War II.

How did the design of the building change in response to public opinion?

In response to public outcry, the circular opening was transformed into a square, addressing the cultural concerns while maintaining the building’s structural and aesthetic integrity.

What architectural styles influenced the design of the Shanghai World Financial Center?

The building's design was influenced by neofuturism, a style that emphasizes clean lines, smooth surfaces, and dynamic forms, moving away from the eclectic postmodernism of the previous decades.

What engineering challenge arose when construction resumed on the Shanghai World Financial Center in the early 2000s?

The challenge was that the foundation, which had been designed for a shorter building, needed to support a taller structure after the building's height was increased by 32 meters.

How was the structural issue with the foundation addressed during the redesign?

The engineer, Les Robertson, redesigned the structure using diagonal braced frames and outrigger trusses, which reduced the building's weight by 10%, allowing it to safely rest on the original foundation.

What role did the Shanghai World Financial Center play in China's skyscraper boom?

The Shanghai World Financial Center symbolized China's rapid economic development and its aspiration to become a global superpower. It was part of a broader wave of skyscraper construction that saw China build more skyscrapers than the U.S. in a fraction of the time.