Emergent Urbanism

Rediscovering Urban Complexity

CCTV Headquarters

When fake complexity goes wrong

Part of the CCTV complex in Beijing burns down. It's hard to tell from the aftermath pictures what is the structural damage and what is the original design.

See Fake Complexity - CCTV Headquarters.

Fake Complexity - CCTV Headquarters

Engineering firm ARUP provided the complexity for this project.

From time to time I happen upon an attempt to "do" complexity that completely misses the point. In this first installment of many "Fake Complexity" topics, the culprit is Rem Koolhaas and his CCTV Headquarters for Beijing.

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