China Central Television Headquarters building has officially completed recently. CCTV is the biggest television producer company in China. It has more than 110 million viewers, which is ninety percent of the Chinese population. The company speaks for the Chinese government and is an important communication tool between the government and the people, and between China and the rest of the world. CCTV is the most powerful media organisation in China.
The proposal for CCTV’s new building design is to be a true iconic landmark, and masterpiece of architecture in Beijing. The invitations for the design competition were sent world-wide to many famous star architects. The competition office has received many good designs. Compared with many other submissions, Rem Koolhass’ designs do not provide the impression of “beautiful architecture”, but a weird, disordered shape. Moreover, it is surely the most technically complicated of all.
Architecture is not political; it can only be used politically. Where architecture exists, it always transcends politics (Leon Krier, 1998). The new CCTV building is supposed to present an important image of the company, as CCTV represents an important image of China.
The Chinese politics were satisfied with Rem Koolhass’ design for it presents an image that was thought impossible to achieve, but nevertheless succeeded by the power of the nation. Possibility is defined as the limitation of the building construction techniques, or as a direct understanding of constructive logic and natural law of common sense. The impossibilities of a building form can easily attract general attention. People can emotionally feel shocked when they see something that is visually impossible.
CCTV represents an image displaying its message to the world, by the ambitions of the nation. Thus the new generations of China are still be able to produce miracle works, just as their ancestors produced the Great Wall.
