"This project is unique because we have been engaged for the full project," said David Staples, managing director of Theatre Projects Consultants, London. "Normally Theatre Projects, and any other foreign consultants, would be involved only in the initial planning stages and conceptual design phase. Once these had been completed we'd hand the project over to local contractors."
This project is also unique in that, because the site is in a flood plain, the arts complex is being built on top of a huge supermarket to lift it above flood level. I have often wondered what happens to the supermarket in the event of a flood, but no-one has been able to explain that to me!"
Ningbo's arts complex is remarkable too for the speed of design and construction - work began in March 2001 and the facility is scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2003, less than 35 months from the start of design to the completion of the 70,000sq.m arts venue. "In the West this amount of time would be barely sufficient to complete design, let alone build the project," said David. "And to an extent we're using technology which is unfamiliar to us these days, because China is still technologically behind the West."
(Ruth Rossington)
