International Office Buildings

17.6.2008 von Ines.

What would you consider as “International” or “modern”? Most of the new buildings in the Financial District or the Central Business District are called “International”. I wonder what that means? I truly believe that China sees the importance of addressing environmental issues. But these new buildings want people to come by cars. They now have nice underground multi level car parking space. But if you come by bike, then you are kept of the grounds of the building by the guards and told to go really far away. So the only place for bikes is in the North across the street there is an old residential building left and there I can lock my bike to their fence. They do not really like that. But in modern life how would want to ride a bike anyway???

The other thing about the “modern” buildings is that they now use strong airconditioning. So in winter it is so hot that you have to open your small tiny window to not melt and in summer it is so cold that you again have to  open your small tiny window to not freeze to death. What a complete waste of energy. But that is considered “International”.

Another funny thing: Our office building is a non smoking building. That I agree is very modern and the right way to go. But is China ready for that yet? My impression is that about 80% of the male smoke and a growing number of females now too. So what happens: The people smoke anyway in a building which is not designed for it. each floor has pantry rooms that are completely enclosed without even the air conditioning and that is where people now smoke.  So even here it would have been better to design smokers rooms with either good ventilation or windows to the outside. And all these issues are not just in this one building.

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