Architecture creates spaces for urban life. As a new German capital in the process of redefining itself, Berlin is developing considerable architectural ambition, as are the new Chinese mega-cities, in terms both of creating urban “landmarks” and establishing entirely new urban spaces, which of late have also been influenced by “low carbon city” models. What influence does architecture actually have on the day-to-day lives of city-dwellers? Do the new architectures indeed generate space for metropolitan culture? Does architecture give rise to an urban identity? European and Chinese architects will be discussing in this salon.

Reservations required.

From Tuesday to Friday 11:00-18:00 please call +86 10 5780 0200 to book. Please note that you can only book 1 seat at a time. Members can also book by emailing: members@159.138.20.147 (Email bookings are reserved for UCCA members only)

Yung Ho Chong is the principal architect of China ́s first private architecture firm Atelier FeichangJianzhu (FCJZ), which he founded in 1993 with Lijia Lu. He has taught at various architecture schools in the USA and China and is currently professor at MIT and TongjiUniversity.He participated in numerous international art and architecture exhibitions and biennials. Chang was the curator for the First Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture in 12005 and one of curators for the China Pavilion at Venice Biennale in 2008. Being the recipient of numerous awards himself, he has been a Pritzker Prize Jury member since 2011. Chang published a collection of essays and many books and monographs, including Yung Ho Chang / Atelier FeichangJianzhu: A Chinese Practice. His work has also appeared in many architectural journals in Asia, Europe, and America. Originally from Beijing, Chang received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1984.

David Gianotten joined OMA in 2008, launched OMA's Hong Kong office in 2009, and became partner at OMA in 2010. David Gianotten leads OMA's large portfolio in the Asia Pacific region: projects under his design and supervision include the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the Tencent Headquarters in Beijing and the Taipei Performing Arts Centre. David Gianotten was responsible for end stages of the recently completed CCTV headquarters in Beijing and OMA’s conceptual masterplan for the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong. David Gianotten studied Architecture and Construction Technology at Eindhoven University of Technology. Before joining OMA, he was Principal Architect at SeARCH, with whom he won the Aga Khan Prize for Architecture in 2007.

About the Mercator Salon

The Mercator Salon is a series of events run by Stiftung Mercator in Beijing. The salons provide a platform for Chinese and Europeans to exchange ideas and opinions on topical issues relevant to culture and society. In 2013, additional salons will take place at different venues in Beijing.

For more information about the Mercator Salon, please visit: http://www.mercator-salon.com

About the Foundation

Stiftung Mercator is one of the largest private foundationsin Germany. It pursues clearly defined objectives in its thematic clusters of integration, climate change and arts education and it achieves these objectives with a combination of socio-political advocacy and practical work. Stiftung Mercator implements its own projects and supports external projects in its centres for science and humanities, education and international affairs. It takes an entrepreneurial, professional and international approach to its work.

China is the most important new political and economic ac- tor in the emerging multipolar world and a country with extraordinary potential. Quite simply, international development is no longer conceivable without China. This demands a better and more nuanced understanding of Chinese reality, especially in Germany. This is what we hope to achieve in long-term partnerships and cooperative ventures. Currently, Stiftung Mercator is funding several different projects in China: school and youth exchanges, multiplier en- counters and fellowship programmes for young managers in the areas of civil society, politics, academia and business. see http://www.stiftung-mercator.de/en for more information

Project Manager: Pan Di

Chair: Michael Kahn-Ackermann (Stiftung Mercator China Special Representative)