Remarkable and spectacular icons of concrete, glass & steel kind can be expected to be replicated and copied willy-nilly. Nothing you can do. Everyone wants a piece of the glory, wants to get into the act. Emerging catch-up nations and cities particularly, eye-sore industrial wastelands, no-man lands, pig-sty agricultural precincts of shameful former time, &etc. &etc. Left behind too long, here is available a pole-vault leap into the centre of contemporary chic. South-west China caught up in quick time. Boom-towns like no other—Shanghai, Guangzhou, HK and the others was just the start. Coming now to a prime river frontage in Chongqing is a thinly masked replica of Singapore's own, unique and inimitable (previously) MBS. The Marina Bay Sands hotel, resort, casino, playground/dreamworld rolled into one—or rather three towers. More home movies & snaps feature the MBS than Disneyland, the Great Wall and any beach-side palm-fringed spot on the globe combined, possibly. The architect responsible for the original not done yet. No need fear charges of plagiarism and mimicry when the principal and creative designer was himself brought on-board. Cost was no object, presumably: Moshe Safdie by name, please come forward and take a bow. Richly deserved. Ladies and gentlemen, raise your glasses... Another signature feast for the roving eye. Spectacular. Towers that curve and sway, dance almost. When the water beneath is sparkling, a double rumba in the reflection. The unforgettable skypool atop the original MBS replaced in this second iteration by platforms, shafts, jutting spears of green crowns that pierce the heart. Moshe's mum would be proud of him. No fear of the charge of repeating oneself. All taken to another level. An icon to hang your hat on. It would not surprise if Moshe put the cue back in the rack after this. Unsurpassable. Possibly the sky-traffic was the only worry with the mesmerising effect created. A tiny segment robbed from the original here the only thing. You get that with ground-breaking forerunner art & science. Ball back in SG's court to strive for something better again, another unmatchable trump card to keep ahead of the game. Tough ask, but not beyond them here. Imagination Only Limited by the Strength of your PASSION—on a recent passing bus, if it was got right. (Second thoughts that mighta been a newly released condo on the market.)
Good luck to the city of Chongqing. Developments to watch.
Today in the Straits Times a pic that no doubt only goes some part of the way to catch the allure of the marvel soon to enter the architectural fray. Wednesday, 11 Jan 2012, p. 10.
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