Jubilantly 'werid' wonders

The new tower in Beijing's Olympic Forest Park is nicknamed 'the nails'. Kuang Linhua / China Daily

Lip believes it's about whether these buildings serve residents or developers.

"I wish I could name some 'weird' buildings whose uniqueness strikes resonance with local people or expresses the sentiments of our times, rather than just expressing the interests and egos of owners or corporations or mayors," he says.

"I find attempts by certain architects whose buildings in China try to express an updated idea of Chineseness to be more interesting than 'weird' buildings that look just like it can be in another city in another country."

Japan-based Taisei Corp's Beijing office architect Jiang Yuan says China's architecture struggles from "distorted aesthetics and values".

"The conversation with Western architecture is abrupt and blunt," Jiang says.

"They want to give architecture some Chinese elements but don't realize traditional cultural heritage isn't simply crude grafting or patchwork. The entire Chinese construction industry loves the unconventional and grand. But they're copycats without soul."

Yip says technology is also redrawing the blueprint.

"The other big reason is the prevalence of the Internet, social media and other digital platforms to disseminate architecture for mass consumption. (This has) overtaken what used to be a realer and evolving understanding of our built environment and living in buildings. This has led to more of today's architecture being produced increasingly for visual impact rather than actual experience."

Miao Design Studio principal architect and University of Hawaii professor Pu Miao points out China's "weird" construction is unique.

"In Western countries, you find these oddballs mostly at the vernacular level, such as a small hotel or a fast-food store," Pu says.

"In contrast, vulgar buildings in China include many landmark projects, such as headquarters of large banks or major governmental buildings."