Building Contemporary China examines three decades of architectural answers to the country's challenges

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced plans for a new exhibition that will examine the influence of a group of eleven Chinese architects working across all typologies in the country with broader implications to the global architecture industry as a whole.

RIBA shares: "Building Contemporary China aims to enrich visitors’ understanding of the techniques and approaches that characterize contemporary Chinese architecture and how these relate to the country’s wider culture and society."

Opening tomorrow, September 29, at the organization’s 66 Portland Place headquarters in London, the exhibition is part of the RIBA China Architect 100 program and will be supplemented by a visit from a traveling delegation of Chinese architects. 

The aim of the exchange is to foster a greater dialogue between practitioners in both countries. RIBA's Head of Development for RIBA China, Umi Lyu, says the show offers UK-based architects a "rare and valuable opportunity" to take a more focused look at the work of their contemporaries, adding that it also works to showcase the varied ways in which common challenges have been able to be addressed in the Chinese context.

"At a time when we face such urgent and shared global challenges, it is more important than ever that we are sharing knowledge and fostering connections across borders. We hope that the exhibition will contribute to enriching the international practice of architecture and maintaining this vital exchange between architects in the UK and China," Lyu continued.

The group of architects includes Bo Hongtao, Cui Kai, Dong Gong, Li Li, Li Xiangbei, Liu Jiakun, Meng Fanhao, Meng Jianmin, Ren Lizhi, Wang Jianguo, and Zhou Kai. A total of 29 projects are featured overall, representing more than 30 years of the development of building practices that have helped propel the country's ambitions toward becoming a global economic power and cultural mainstay.

Guest curator Dr. Li Hua of Southeast University said finally: "Supported by continuous exchanges with their international counterparts, Chinese architects have sought to respond to a multitude of contemporary architectural challenges in the context of China’s rapidly evolving social and economic conditions. This has resulted in a panorama of projects, shaped by both China’s architectural lineage and its contemporary context. The exuberant work we are presenting in this exhibition demonstrates the breadth and creativity of contemporary Chinese architecture.” 

A panel discussion featuring Hua, former RIBA President Benjamin Derbyshire, artist Tim Yip, RIBA programming director Oliver Urquhart Irvine, and the British Council's Director of Architecture Design and Fashion, Sevra Davis, will also be held from 4 to 6 PM on the 29th to inaugurate the exhibition. 

Building Contemporary China is free to members of the public and will remain on view until October 29th.