Dutch architects are to collaborate with Chinese colleagues in designing cheap housing to be realised near Beijing. The project is part of a collaboration agreement between the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAi) and Chinese real estate developer Vanke.
NAi and Vanke - which began their collaboration in June 2010 - signed the agreement in Beijing in the presence of Dutch Deputy Culture Minister Halbe Zijlstra.
In future, the Dutch and the Chinese will also join forces in the field of housing for senior citizens. According to a NAi spokesperson: "China still has very few homes for the elderly."
Mr Zijlstra said the agreement presented an opportunity: “Dutch architects are among the world’s best, but in the Netherlands they are now facing difficult times as a result of the crisis. Also thanks to NAi, they can give their creativity full rein here in China – a classic example of how to turn a problem into an opportunity.”
(gsh/tf)
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Email this Bulletin
Printer-friendly version
