exploring the possibilities of china — the country, which significantly developed over the last decade —, belgium-born and asia-based photographer kris provoost reflects on the new architecture in booming second-tier cities. following up the previous ‘beautified china I’, the ‘beautified china II’ photo series of iconic buildings designed by famous architects, such as kengo kuma, zaha hadid, MAD, GPM architekten and others, aims to understand how to find a compromise between preserving the rich heritage of the country and keep on developing contemporary destinations. 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
chongqing grand theater
architect: GMP architekten
place: chongqing 
year: 2009

 

 

the foreground of provoost’s series are shape, color, and pattern — the elements every architect has to deal with daily. the images show strong contrasts between shapes, but perhaps even more between different cities.

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
hongkou soho
architect: kengo kuma
place: shanghai 
year: 2015

 

 

the structures stand out because of a strong use of color (guotai arts center, china architecture design group), its fluid shapes (harbin grand theater, MAD), or its symbolism (canton tower, information based architecture). ‘each building is taken out of context — all that’s left is its pure shape,’ explains the photographer. ‘this allows me, as an architect, to study and better understand the design that makes the building the way it is. for me, beautified china encapsulates my career both as an architect and photographer.’

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
canton tower
architect: information based architecture
place: guangzhou 
year: 2010

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
guangxi culture and arts center
architect: GMP architekten
place: nanning 
year: 2018

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
harbin grand theater
architect: MAD architects
place: harbin 
year: 2015

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
3 cubes
architect: GMP architekten
place: shanghai 
year: 2015

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
guotai arts center
architect: china architecture design group
place: chongqing 
year: 2013

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
tianjin exploratorium
architect: bernard tschumi
place: tianjin 
year: 2018

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
guangdong museum
architect: rocco design
place: guangzhou 
year: 2010

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
ningbo gateway
architect: RSH+P
place: ningbo 
year: 2017

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
sky SOHO
architect: zaha hadid architects
place: shanghai 
year: 2014

 

kengo kuma, zaha hadid, and MAD's architecture in new china captured by kris provoost
museum of modern art
architect: atelier deshaus
place: shanghai
year: 2017

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: maria erman | designboom