Embracing the creativity of weird architecture

China’s ban on what it describes as ‘bizarre’ architecture has been debated and criticised in architectural circles. China’s State Council has said it wants the country to focus on buildings that are economical, functional, and aesthetically pleasing – and anything that doesn’t fit this description will be banned. At Locker Group we think there is always room for play and exuberance in architecture, and we celebrate the creative projects our architectural products have been a part of here in Australia.

China’s ban on weird architecture

In February 2016 China’s State Council released urban planning guidelines that banned ‘bizarre’ and ‘odd-shaped’ buildings that do not reflect Chinese cultural heritage. Forbes calls the move “the latest roadblock to creative expression” in China, as it is now the government who decides what architecture can be defined as ‘aesthetically pleasing’.

In recent decades Chinese architecture has had a burst of unique, elaborate architectural projects that coincided with China’s economic boom, CNN reports. This has lead to the country being described as an ‘architect’s playground’. Notable projects include the coin-shaped Guangzhou Circle, and the CCTV headquarters in Beijing, which locals have nicknamed the ‘Big Pants’.

The State Council’s announcement signals a return to more traditional architectural values, albeit with an environmental focus.

Embracing the bizarre in our collaborative projects 

Although we are all in favour of architecture that is more environmentally friendly and economical, this does not necessarily have to come at the expense of imagination or creativity. Architecture can satisfy the criteria of function and practicality while still being visually dazzling. We believe this is proven by some of the recent Australian projects that Locker Group has been able to take part in recently.

Take KUD House in Melbourne, for example, which rethinks what small houses can be, or the John Curtin College of the Arts, which uses folded, perforated panels to create a fascinating origami effect. Then there’s Frew Park, an award-winning example of how a traditional brief like a playground design can be made into something quite unique.

Here at Locker Group we love how weird and unusual architecture can get. The imagination and scope designers bring to their projects challenges us to push our products and our techniques to new limits. If you’re working on something new and exciting please get in touch and we can discuss how Locker Group can help make your weird idea into a weird reality.