Newsweek has the transformation of Beijing for the 2008 Olympics as its main story in the next issue and the verdict is, by and large, give or take, very favorable.

‘The silhouettes of the spectacular new stadium and swimming center are already familiar worldwide, but they are set in a rebuilt urban core that startles return visitors. Lush new green spaces, swirling expressways, shopping arcades roofed with giant LED screens, a new downtown financial center plus a vastly expanded public transport system have all rapidly appeared. To some, the Olympic-driven metamorphosis evokes the remaking of Paris by Baron Haussmann between 1865 and 1887—a complete redesign of the city center, including the creation of the grand boulevards for which Paris is famous today.’

That is quite an amazing statement.

Paris is the city it is because of Hausmann (he was not responsible for the quite appalling Eiffel Tower) and his architecture took a poor and badly designed city and turned it into something the world often thinks of as approaching perfection.

There is also some reference to Hitler’s architect Albert Speer whose son recently redesigned a central eight-kilometer-long strip running from the center of the Forbidden City north to the new Olympic green. This was mandated by imperial feng shui masters which is not a typical Germanic move.

‘Many of the new taboo-busting constructions are stunning gravity-defying structures designed by some of the world’s top architects, as well as China’s own young guns.’

This is all strong stuff and pretty damn complimentary. Beijing should be very proud that one year before the Olympics the world is already sitting up and taking notice.
Source: Newsweek