Wang Yuanyuan

    cheekywang@hotmail.com

    NORWEGIAN architects who visited Shenzhen were impressed by the city, and project manager and representative of the Association of Consulting Architects in Norway said Shenzhen was a very interesting place to visit as every architectural style in the world could be found here.

    Peter Butenschon made the remarks when visiting Shenzhen with a nine-member architect delegation organized by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Guangzhou.

    He said that every building in Shenzhen look different, unlike in Norway.

    “Buildings in Norway are more low-key, whereas they are very stylish here in Shenzhen. Each building has its unique style,” he said.

    Butenschon was most impressed by the buildings in OCT-LOFT and OCT East. “The OCT-LOFT is a very well-done project. Compared with the 798 Art Zone in Beijing, it is greener, more gorgeous and more friendly in here, turning the old and cold factory houses into a nice place for artists and residents,” he said.

    Although Butenschon has never worked with Chinese architects before, he would like to have such a chance in the future and he was confident that their experience would be useful for Shenzhen and perhaps for China.

    Butenschon said that the speed of Shenzhen’s architectural growth was impressive. “But we think it may be a little too fast. We think cooperation between Norway and Shenzhen will be good. The combination of Shenzhen’s fast speed and Norway’s slow speed can make the city’s architecture stronger and more outstanding,” he said.

    Meanwhile, he encouraged architects in Shenzhen and in China in general to pay more attention to public space for people, rather than only for cars.

    Butenschon and the delegation visited Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou to meet with top architectural companies and estate developers in China, aiming at seeking business opportunities and cooperation projects in the country. They also held a photography exhibition on Norwegian architecture at Artron Gallery in Futian District.

    Photos at the exhibition were taken last year by Chinese architects and estate developers who visited Norway as part of an exchange program, which was also organized by the consulate general.

    The Norwegian architects also attended a seminar with professors and architects in Tsinghua University in Beijing and Tongji University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.

    Huang Chen, business development manager at the consulate general, said that Norwegian and Chinese architecture have much in common, such as the importance of quality and an emphasis on environmentally friendly concepts and innovative design. But Huang added that there were some challenges to fruitful cooperation, such as the language barrier and cultural differences — though these exchange programs may help both sides find solutions and thus help Norwegian architects design more buildings which are suitable for Chinese estate developers.