China’s floating villages

This seams to be a regular building site in Chongqing, one of China’s fast growing mega-cities. But it also is a so called ‘floating village’ : a temporary residence of migrant workers around one of the thousands of construction sites in China. The inhabitants work as a chef,  a shop owner or a prostitute. China’s ‘floating population’ counts 150 million. After work is finished, the whole village moves to the next building site.

For one week we walked through the village on the picture. We talked with restaurant owner Deng and his wife about their business model, and with manager Wen who dreams about retirement. We tried to reveal why the 800 inhabitants leave their homes and kid and move into a container or under a corrugated roof. What seems to be a slum, turns out to be a vibrant village with its own fresh market, health center and cinema.

The whole story about the floating village in Chongqing is in this weeks’ Dutch weekly Vrij Nederland.

Check also: Eeuw van de Stad » Go West Project (5): China’s ‘dolende dorpen’.

Eeuw van de Stad: Residential Complex, Taiyuan

On the blog ‘Eeuw van de Stad’we posted a series of pictures and a small story about a remarkable residential complex we ran into in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province last month. The complex is interesting sice it combines ultimate urbanity with ultimate suburbanity. Sounds familiar? We already posted one picture of the complex on our site earlier. Now check out the full story (in Dutch) and pictures at: Eeuw van de Stad » Go West Project 4: Uitzicht.

Eeuw van de Stad: Interview Liu Jiakun

In May this year, we did an interview with the architect Liu Jiakun from Chengdu. Mr. Liu has a clear and critical opinion on the urban developments in China. In the interview he gives an analysis of what is happening in his country: more cities starting to look alike, with a strive for the same identity. You can read the interview at: Eeuw van de Stad. (only in Dutch)

Go West @ Eeuw van de Stad

Eeuw van de Stad is a multimedia project, initiated by International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) and Dutch Broadcasting Organisation VPRO about cities and their development. Go West will publish a biweekly blog on their website. The blog is in Dutch but pictures and movies will be understandable for an international audience. Read our introductory blog.