Dezeen Magazine

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This week, critics slammed China's "mediocre" museums and praised floating architecture

This week on Dezeen: critics spoke to Dezeen about how China's museum boom has resulted in cultural buildings with "no vision", while other industry experts told us that rising sea levels are sparking interest in amphibious architecture.

Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum by Studio Pei Zhu
Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum by Studio Pei Zhu

China's rush to build thousands of new museums is leading to cultural buildings "with no vision and mediocre collections", said architects and curators in the country.

"The desire to buy culture is quite rampant in China today," Shanghai-based architect Lyndon Neri told Dezeen. "Money can buy a lot of things but definitely not culture."

Water Squares at Benthemplein, Rotterdam, by De Urbanisten
Water Squares at Benthemplein, Rotterdam, by De Urbanisten

As world leaders worked to hammer out a deal in Paris to limit the effects of global warming, urbanism expert Tracy Metz said architects and urban designers are finally responding to the threat of rising sea levels.

NLÉ's Makoko Floating School in Lagos Lagoon
Floating architecture will offer "an improved way of living"

We also reported on the shortage of development sites in major cities, which is driving people to set up floating residences on rivers and the sea.

Assemble wins 2015 Turner Prize
Assemble wins 2015 Turner Prize for Liverpool housing regeneration project

In other news, London collective Assemble became the first architecture or design studio to receive the prestigious Turner Prize for art.

1 Undershaft skyscraper by Eric Parry Architects
1 Undershaft skyscraper by Eric Parry Architects

Eric Parry Architects unveiled designs for the tallest building in London's financial district, while flower-like ice rinks were proposed for the city's River Thames.

London Underground by Studio Egret West
London Underground by Studio Egret West

Studio Egret West released images showcasing a "revolutionary new design vision" for London Underground stations.

Calatrava Huashan bridges in China
Santiago Calatrava unveils three bridge designs for Huashan, China

Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava designed three bridges for the growing Chinese city of Huashan, while the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles reopened.

Timmerhuis by OMA
OMA completes pixellated Timmerhuis complex in Rotterdam

OMA completed a mixed-use building in Rotterdam featuring a pixellated steel and glass structure, and plans that would see New York's iconic Broadway converted into a linear park were published.

Apple's Smart Battery Case
Apple's Smart Battery Case

Apple released a gadget to increase iPhone 6 battery life and Daisy Ginsberg explained why she thinks synthetic biology is turning into a form of industrial design.

Dezeen's Christmas gift guide for architects and designers
Dezeen's Christmas gift guide for architects and designers

A Lego set designed for architects went viral on our Facebook page this week as readers browsed our guide for gift ideas in the run up to Christmas. Dezeen Watch Store also created a timepiece-dedicated gift guide.

Counterpoint House by Paul Raff Studio
Counterpoint House by Paul Raff Studio

Popular projects included a family home in Toronto featuring a brise-soleil made of aluminium louvres, a concrete primary school extension with tiny windows and a chair designed to force sitters into an uncomfortable position.

Disposture Chair by Jessica Ross
Disposture Chair by Jessica Ross

Main image: Yinchuan Art Museum by WAA

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