Monday, May 21, 2012

Topped out

Elevated flourish
Shanghai, China
May 2012






















I'd like to wrap up this week's "look up" theme (click here for some last-minute up-ness) with another perspective on two of Shanghai's tallest buildings. I originally posted a night-time shot of these two (here), and was amazed at how simply waiting for daytime, then shifting a few blocks over, could result in a totally different view of these two. I kinda dig how they almost look like they're touching. Optics can be so grand, no?

The last time I was here, the building on the right was still under construction (photos here). That gigantic hole, which hadn't been completed when I shot the building in 2007, isn't just a cool architectural flourish. It was also at the middle of a civic controversy: It was originally supposed to be a circle - a reminder of the sun - but opponents complained it reminded them of Japanese imperialism. Architects eventually changed it to what you see here. Cool beans.

Your turn: Looking at the same thing from two perspectives. Please discuss.

One more thing: We hope you'll pop back in at 7:00 p.m. - OMG, that's tonight! - when we launch our new Thematic theme, "far from home".

1 comment:

rashbre said...

I wonder if these buildings have nick names, like the Gherkin and the Cheesegrater in London (& the Shard which even gets to have it as an official name).

Its kind of a pineapple and another grater, isn't it? and the 'grater' reminds me of the top of the Kingdom tower in Riyad.