Why China's Super Wealthy Turning to Tradition-Looking Homes?

[Shotgunner51]

Turning to tradition: Why China's super wealthy don't want western-looking homes anymore

By Oscar Holland, for CNN
Updated 0142 GMT (0942 HKT) August 29, 2016

Photos: Feel like an emperor in these traditional Chinese homes
Unique Taohuayuan, Suzhou, China – Traditional style houses are becoming increasingly popular among China's urban elite who want to set themselves apart from more middle class real estate consumers.

(CNN) When Sotheby's listed a 32-bedroom house in Suzhou last month, it was the property's price tag that made headlines.

Valued at 1 billion yuan (over $150 million), the 72,000-square-foot estate -- nicknamed 'utopia' in Mandarin -- was heralded as China's most expensive home. The story led to familiar commentary about the country's booming demand for luxury living. But it also represented a subtler trend among the super-rich.

Unapologetically Chinese

Despite having the trappings of a modern Western mansion, including a pool and wine cellar, the property was unapologetically Chinese in style.

The house's rock gardens and curved roofs epitomize a historical aesthetic now being replicated -- to varying degrees of authenticity -- across China's luxury market. While high-end buyers overall still prefer Western-style villas and apartments, demand is changing, says Sunny Liu, general manager of property research firm China Index Academy.

"We can see this trend of traditional styles becoming more and more popular in the market, especially in the very top-end of the luxury sector," he says. "In Beijing, most of the high-value villa products are traditional now."​

Read more at: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/28/architecture/luxury-china-homes-most-expensive/index.html

 

[alaungphaya]

That's encouraging. China has a reputation of insatiably appropriating Western culture. I agree with the article in that the cultural revolution is mostly to blame.

 

[jkroo]

Good thread, bro.

The phenomenon occurred almost 20 years ago. Maybe even earlier. The decent people love traditional style of buildings and furnitures is not a myth. Furthermore, the building and furniture is super expensive. Even a desk or a chair cost ¥30000+ with certain materials and the style containing many culture symbols and characteristics.

The layout of traditional buildings concentrate more on Fengshui that means better living conditions for people.

Many knowledges for the traditional style. Many materials were running out in China so that some traditional furnitures valued even higher in the market day by day. That is a clue for the trend occurred more earlier.

 

[Godman]

Not really surprised, Super rich tend to prefer iconic buildings and many go for traditional architecture not just in China

 

[Nike]

the Japanese too, many of their big shoots love traditional homes. Wish our can follow the suits

 

[gambit]

Chinese on the outside, Western on the inside -- the wine cellar.

What is the opposite of the pejorative 'banana' here ?

 

[ahojunk]

Chinese on the outside, Western on the inside -- the wine cellar.

What is the opposite of the pejorative 'banana' here ?

.
"Hard boiled egg", white on the outside and yellow on the inside.

Anyway, this is what I have heard.

 

[Jlaw]

Good thread, bro.

The phenomenon occurred almost 20 years ago. Maybe even earlier. The decent people love traditional style of buildings and furnitures is not a myth. Furthermore, the building and furniture is super expensive. Even a desk or a chair cost ¥30000+ with certain materials and the style containing many culture symbols and characteristics.

The layout of traditional buildings concentrate more on Fengshui that means better living conditions for people.

Many knowledges for the traditional style. Many materials were running out in China so that some traditional furnitures valued even higher in the market day by day. That is a clue for the trend occurred more earlier.

traditional furniture is popular here also. Chinese people tend to buy the expensive red rose wood furniture. they are expensive and last hundreds of years. I bought the whole set 15 years ago. now price have doubled for the same set with less expensive wood

Chinese on the outside, Western on the inside -- the wine cellar.

What is the opposite of the pejorative 'banana' here ?

I sense jealousy on your part man!

 

[gambit]

.
"Hard boiled egg", white on the outside and yellow on the inside.

Anyway, this is what I have heard.

The architecture is just another facade that all wealthy people are good at creating. Does not matter country or nationality. It is a thin shell like that of the egg's. Get past the facade and these wealthy Chinese are just as Westernized as his/her European/American counterpart.

 

[TaiShang]

@Gotterdammerung , you will probably be interested in this

**

The newly created/urbanized areas should from now on have a greater traditional sense now that the cost-cutting concerns of mass urbanization is a thing of past, largely.

@AndrewJin

 

[jkroo]

traditional furniture is popular here also. Chinese people tend to buy the expensive red rose wood furniture. they are expensive and last hundreds of years. I bought the whole set 15 years ago. now price have doubled for the same set with less expensive wood


I sense jealousy on your part man!

That's awesome, dude.

Another material -- Boniodendron minus 黄梨木 is super expensive. The best quality of this kind wood is domestic in certain area which I mentioned above is just running out and need time to grow. Pay more attention to it.
That's an most value added kind of traditional furniture. If the furnitures made by domestic famous artists /artisans with decent traditional style will be more precious than gold.


I always keep eyes on this kind of furnitures. Good luck to us.

 

[Nilgiri]

Turning to tradition: Why China's super wealthy don't want western-looking homes anymore

By Oscar Holland, for CNN
Updated 0142 GMT (0942 HKT) August 29, 2016

View attachment 331757

Photos: Feel like an emperor in these traditional Chinese homes
Unique Taohuayuan, Suzhou, China – Traditional style houses are becoming increasingly popular among China's urban elite who want to set themselves apart from more middle class real estate consumers.

(CNN) When Sotheby's listed a 32-bedroom house in Suzhou last month, it was the property's price tag that made headlines.

Valued at 1 billion yuan (over $150 million), the 72,000-square-foot estate -- nicknamed 'utopia' in Mandarin -- was heralded as China's most expensive home. The story led to familiar commentary about the country's booming demand for luxury living. But it also represented a subtler trend among the super-rich.

Unapologetically Chinese

Despite having the trappings of a modern Western mansion, including a pool and wine cellar, the property was unapologetically Chinese in style.

The house's rock gardens and curved roofs epitomize a historical aesthetic now being replicated -- to varying degrees of authenticity -- across China's luxury market. While high-end buyers overall still prefer Western-style villas and apartments, demand is changing, says Sunny Liu, general manager of property research firm China Index Academy.

"We can see this trend of traditional styles becoming more and more popular in the market, especially in the very top-end of the luxury sector," he says. "In Beijing, most of the high-value villa products are traditional now."​

View attachment 331756
View attachment 331758

Read more at: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/28/architecture/luxury-china-homes-most-expensive/index.html

Its about time friend! Hopefully with time, China can bring more of its own unique cultural aethetic to the architecture it does....both public and private. I am tired of seeing the same glass towers and suburbia houses wherever I go in the world

@AndrewJin

 

[xunzi]

either traditional house or these modern contemporary house, but please not the ugly Victorian house. They are god ugly and if I have a billion to spend, I woldn't spend 1 penny on buying a western Victorian house. LOL

 

[LA se Karachi]

Beautiful house. I'm sure it's more "western" on the inside though.

On another note, most people can't afford to have a home like that. That's why boring western style homes are so popular around the world.

 

[Shotgunner51]

the Japanese too, many of their big shoots love traditional homes. Wish our can follow the suits

Yes I have seen many traditional architectures in Japan, many of those are up-market residences, very nice blend of modern technology with Zenshuyo, Wayo or Daibutsuyo. Several of their architectural designs are also very popular outside of Japan as well, like Tatami, Zen stye interior.

Speaking of Zenshuyo, which is derived from Zen sect of Buddhism brought to Japan from Song Dynasty in late 12th century, traditional Chinese architecture is actually an even broader and more pluralized concept. It comprise of a wide variety of architectural styles, influenced by different ethnicity/cultures (even Han is a diversed culture), royal designs (dynasties, kingdoms), religions (e.g. various sects Buddhism, Muslim), philosophies (e.g. Confucian, Taoism), geography (weather, terrain, natural habitat).

As people are getting wealthier, they have more financial freedom to distinguish themselves from usual contemporary living styles and explore the vast spiritual wealth in cultural heritage. I look forward to more architectural designs that blend modern/futuristic technologies, eco-friendliness and traditional culture into one.

Thanks!