In a new book entitled Bianca Bosker explores the impact of ‘duplitecture’ on China’s social, political, architectural, and commercial landscape – and she found some surprising results.
Whereas duplicated buildings in the US and other parts of the world tend to be tourist traps (think Vegas), in China these structures are often inhabited as private residences – and they shape the bourgeois aspirations of the middle-class families that live in them. In many cases, the residents may not even realize that the buildings they inhabit are exact replicas of other structures around the world.
If you find this as crazy as we do, and you’d like to learn more about knock-off architecture, you can purchase the newly released Original Copies now from University of Hawaii Press, plus stay tuned for our in-depth review! And let us know what you think about duplitecture in the poll below:
+ Bianca Bosker,
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Did you know that there’s a faux Eiffel Tower in China, as well as an entire copy of the city of Venice, complete with gondola-lined canals? In the past few years, builders in China have replicated world-famous buildings and landmarks at a remarkable –
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The resulting People’s Court may be a mishmosh of stolen architecture, but the elements are still very recognizable.
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The Shanghai Minhang People’s Court courthouse takes its architectural cues from BOTH the White House and the United States Capital building.
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The Chinese didn’t change much in their duplication of Venice’s canals. Their version just looks a bit newer and cleaner.
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Perhaps the most recognizable of all of China’s duplitecture is this brazen copy of the Eiffel Tower. But perhaps we might be able to say the same about the mini Eiffel in Vegas?
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A Chinese re-creation of Amsterdam’s Central Train Station, complete with randomly placed faux-Dutch windmill!
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This building has since been demolished.
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The Chinese version of Venice’s Plaza De San Marco.
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Venice Water Town brings the streets of Venice to Hangzhou, China.
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This “Hilltop Castle” offers stately European living arrangements at “Oriental Paris” in Hangzhou, China.
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A replica of Bristol’s Christ Church is a popular place for wedding portraits.
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This replicated Venetian neighborhood comes complete with a canal!
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Thames Town replicated the historic streets of London in China.
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Original Copies is in stores now. You’d better make sure yours is an original copy!!
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