A
star among stars, the Bank of China building represents
its host city in a number of ways. It is unmistakably
modern, blending well with the urban metropolis that
has sprouted on the South China Sea. It climbs 1,209
feet into the sky in a dazzling spectacle of blue
glass and white framing. Although surrounded by dozens
of other skyscrapers, this tower stands out among
them all as a landmark in Hong Kong's skyline. The
building, however, is uniquely Chinese. Standing among
the glass and steel reeds of its neighbors, this building
takes the bamboo forest allegory one step further.
It is actually constructed in a shape that resembles
the stalks of bamboo pushing skyward with a strong
central shaft and flanking columns. The building's
structural form also defers to Chinese tradition,
hiding portions of the exterior cross braces to create
diamonds rather than x-shapes in the sky. The cross
is considered a symbol of bad luck in Chinese culture,
and this could be detrimental to the building's occupancy
rate even in modern, overcrowded Hong Kong.
