Gate to the East
Gate to the East (东方之门) | |
---|---|
Gate to the East in 2015 | |
Alternative names | Gate of the Orient or The Pants Building |
General information | |
Status | Complete |
Type | commercial, transportation |
Location | Suzhou, Jiangsu, China |
Construction started | 2004 |
Completed | 2016 |
Height | 301.8 m (990.2 ft) |
Technical details | |
Size | 340,000 square metres |
Floor count | 68 |
Lifts/elevators | 6 |
Design and construction | |
Architect | RMJM |
References | |
[1] |
The Gate to the East, also known as the Gate of the Orient, (simplified Chinese: 东方之门; traditional Chinese: 東方之門; pinyin: dōng fāng zhī mén) is the current tallest building in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. It is intended to be a symbol of a gateway to the city, that emphasizes the city's continuing significance in modern China. The building is planned to be built to a height of 301.8 metres (990 ft), and located in the heart of Suzhou's China–Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) district. Construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2016 at a cost of $700 million USD. Its location precisely indicates the intersection of the historical east-west-axis of Suzhou Old Town with the west bank of Jinji Lake.
Criticism
Though its design was an iconic gateway, the Gate to the East has been subjected to mockery by western massmedia as "resembling a pair of trousers".[2][3][4] The Daily Mail questioned: "Architectural triumphs or just plain pants?", also stating: "China's latest superstructures resemble a giant pair of long johns..."[5] The landmark has thus led to a slew of internet parodies.[4]
Transport
See also
References
- ↑ "Gate of the Orient, Suzhou, China – Portfolio". RMJM. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ↑ 04 Sep 2012 (2012-09-04). "British-designed skyscraper resembles big pants, say angry Chinese". Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ↑ "$700 million skyscraper 'resembles a pair of pants'". News.com.au. 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- 1 2 "Netizens: New China building is 'pants' | CNN Travel". Travel.cnn.com. 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ↑ "Architectural triumph or just plain pants? China's latest skyscraper mocked for resembling giant pair of long johns | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
Coordinates: 31°19′01″N 120°40′44″E / 31.31694°N 120.67889°E