For years, the Chinese government has tried to put the brakes on developers who harbor large ambitions but lack a little creativity. However, these efforts have proven to be difficult as firms continue to construct buildings that are notable for their height or resemblance to famous structures elsewhere in the world.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and National Development and Reform Commission revealed that the construction of copycat buildings has been banned. The government is also placing a maximum height of 500 meters on new skyscraper construction, the Global Times reported.
There are more skyscrapers in China than any other country in the world as supertall buildings continue to rise throughout the mainland’s largest cities. It is a different story in the country’s smaller cities where developers simply plagiarized designs from iconic buildings. It’s possible to find the Eifel Tower, the White House and many other easily recognizable global structures in China. There was once a Sydney Opera House replica in the country, but that had to be dismantled due to poor construction.
And while these novelty buildings were popular at first, the public could be growing weary of seeing them, according to the Global Times.
“China itself has lots of outstanding works in history with its rich architectural culture. Rather than simply imitating and copying foreign buildings, it is urgent for architects and the public to know about and learn from our own profound architectural art,” Han Feng, Head of Department of Landscape Architecture under Tongji University, explained to the website.
Second time China bans copycat buildings
The move means China bans copycat buildings for the second time in five years. However, the country is hoping for a better result this time around. The first attempt saw the Chinese central government prohibit the construction of buildings that were too big, xenocentric or just plain weird.
With public sentiment to copycat buildings starting the shift, the government may find it easier to enforce the ban this time around. As for the skyscraper height limitations, buildings taller than 500 meters may be allowed if the developer receives permission from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
Some local authorities began restricting building heights even before this announcement was made. In Beijing, a limit on the height of new buildings in the Central Business District was launched in 2018. The city wanted to reduce density throughout the CBD area.
JLL Beijing told the South China Morning Post that the regulation required developers to redesign eight projects that were taller than the 180 meters permitted by the local government.
