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On the three hour flight from Beijing to Hong Kong, I’m always spellbound by the ever changing landscape 10,000 metres below. The flat dry plains of the north give way to more mountainous terrain, leveling out again with agricultural communities as far as the eye can see. All the more enjoyable with a little Brian Eno accompanying on the iPod.

And it seems I’m not alone in my aerial pursuits.

After months of inactivity, presumably while numerous tests were done on the structural integrity, a tower crane has appeared on the burnt, rusting carcass of the TVCC.

The building was set ablaze by wayward (and illegal) New Year’s fireworks in February 2009. Just a few weeks ago, the site manager who had procured the fireworks for the illegal show was sentenced to seven years in jail. Nineteen others involved in the deadly blaze were jailed for periods ranging from three to six and a half years.

Sometimes that specific place you want to put the camera is just out of reach. And if not just out of reach, then perhaps just a little in harm’s way. So it was no surprise to find ourselves out standing in the oncoming traffic to catch a distant view of the almost completed China World Trade Centre Tower 3, designed by Brian Lee of Skidmore Owings + Merrill. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Brian on a number of his recent projects including Beijing New Poly Plaza, Lenovo Beijing and Guangzhou Poly International Plaza.

Currently the tallest building in Beijing, China World Trade Centre Tower 3 is expected to open to the public later this year. With a luxury hotel on it’s uppermost floors and a retail podium connected through to the adjacent Kerry Centre, the new tower will provide a focal point for the expansive development around this new Central Business District in Beijing.

From a distance, the slowly tapering facade carries a delicate balance between the vertical  and horizontal elements. Closer up, the undulating pattern of the glazing become more pronounced and the facade takes on a more crystalline appearance.

Now that the dust has settled on reconstruction along the Bund, the local lads are out in force again with their kites, catching the early morning breeze off the Huangpu.

The refurbishment of the promenade, undertaken by NBBJ and partner firm Chan Krieger Sieniewicz was completed in time for the opening of the Shanghai World Expo on May 1st. As the day progresses, the Bund promenade becomes a major drawcard for tourists and local alike.

At dusk, the lights on the classic facades of the Bund provide a stoic balance to the brash sleekness of the glass and steel towers of Pudong.

The Iluma development in Singapore designed by WOHA with lighting consultants realitiesIunited was featured in the May 2010 issue of Architectural Record.

Having gazed across the mighty Huangpu over the past decade or so watching the skyline of Pudong emerge from the fields, it has been most interesting to see what was once a bizarre anomaly, slowly approach the very definition of normality.

Of course, the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower completed in 1995, could never be considered normal so is appropriately, still out there on it’s own after all these years.