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Article from issue 5/2007 »Concrete, Masonry and Stone«

"Censorship is a Sign of Weakness" - Interview with Ai Weiwei, Beijing

discussion p. 458 - 462
Architect Weiwei, Ai | Author Fuchs, Claudia | Walter, Edith |

The Chinese artist and architect Ai Weiwei prefers to use solid building materials in order to forge connection with local constructional traditions. Born in 1957 in Beijing, he has been practising urban planning, architecture, interior design and landscape architecture since 1999. He collaborated with the partnership of Herzog & de Meuron in the design of the National Stadium in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games. At the moment increasing numbers of western planners are casting their eyes toward China; where the economy is booming, the scope of building volumes appears endless and complete cityscapes are being transformed at breakneck speed. The time when only large international firms would be considered for Chinese projects is long over – now smaller companies from Europe and America can also partake in the building boom. This, of course, has led to an increase in cultural interaction between East and West. But what is the situation for Chinese architects today? Does a Chinese architectural identity exist? Ai Weiwei discussed these topics with us.