China has released a directive that could put an end to the country's trend for bombastic architecture.
Just over a year after president Xi Jinping called for an end to "weird architecture", the country's State Council has released a document calling for all new buildings to be "suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye", according to the South China Morning Post.
The directive is aimed at tackling the problems associated with the rapid expansion of Chinese cities, as well as increased urbanisation all over the country.
OMA designed the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, which features two towers leaning towards one another. Photograph by Iwan Baan
It states that cities will no longer be allowed to grow beyond what their resources can support, and that "oversized, xenocentric and weird" buildings will be forbidden. It also bans gated communities and non-permitted developments. Xi's original comments, made in late 2014, attacked projects including the Rem Koolhaas-designed CCTV headquarters in Beijing ? one of many unusually shaped projects resulting from China's construction boom.
Shenzhen architect Feng Guochuan told the New York Times that Xi's criticism had already influenced local government decisions regarding new projects. "Generally speaking, local governments now tend to approve more conservative designs," he said.

Related story: Doughnut-shaped skyscraper completed in Guangzhou

But the new...