Apec conference centre architects draw on Chinese influences

Architects designing the venue for the Apec summit in Beijing next year say developers in the capital are increasingly keen on putting up buildings inspired by Chinese culture rather than international designs that may be out of character in the city.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation leaders forum will be held at Yanqi Lake to the north of Beijing and organisers wanted buildings that are contemporary, but also distinctly Chinese, the architects said.

"In the past decade, because we were less sure of our own cultural heritage, we tended to look to the West for design ideas,'' said Zhong Bing, a Shenzhen-based architect and an executive at the design firm commissioned to take charge of the project. "Nowadays we receive more requests from developers who prefer designs that are more Chinese.''

The Apec project involves building a conference centre, hotel and 12 VIP villas.

"For this project they want something Chinese, contemporary and global,'' said Mao Xiaobing, another architect on the project. "They don't want a simple imitation of either Western or traditional Chinese designs. We think this approach represents the real direction of contemporary Chinese architecture."

The villas, each with two presidential suites, a swimming pool and 20 to 40 guest rooms, are based on designs drawn from different regions.