Submitted By: Stacey Westenberger

As we look to China with all of its potential for growth, physically and economically, I can’t help but be concerned about the sustainability of these conditions. Focusing on the physical environment, the urban population in China is projected to increase by over 250 million people in the next two decades (Libby). The increased consumption of resources allowing for this growth is startling and needs to be confronted. As Libby explains, the Chinese government is also concerned about the rapid growth of urban areas. However, the claims made at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild Conference in 2004, were startling, yet seem to be far from fulfilled. “For example, Qiu Baoxing, vice minister of Ministry of Construction, People’s Republic of China, told the conference’s 6,000 attendees that by the end of 2010, all Chinese cities will be expected to reduce their buildings’ energy use by 50 percent; by 2020 that figure will be 65 percent” (Libby). Although these claims are hard to track, the China Rises video, which we all viewed last fall, was released in 2006 and the environmental issues were still a major concern.

With these issues escalating, Danish Architecture firms teamed up with Chinese Universities to create visionary proposals for sustainable urban development in Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Xi’an. (Co-evolution) These creative approaches generate discussions and begin to address the problems in China with conceptual solutions.

As the Danish Architecture Center states, this collaborative approach “illustrates the value of sharing knowledge, ideas, and experiences across borders” (Co-evolution). Denmark, with a population of almost 5.5 million people, is a much different place than China, with a population of over 1.3 billion people. However we can learn from each other, adapting lessons to culturally appropriate solutions. This exhibit won first prize at the 10th International Architecture Biennale in Venice, recognizing its importance as a subject to be addressed among the world.