“Many years ago, we were only able to build boxes. Today, architects from all over the world are working with us - Zaha Hadid from London, Gerkan, Marg and Partner from Hamburg, Kengo Kuma from Japan. We brought design and digitalization from abroad to China.” WorldYearsTodayAbleDesignYears AgoBoxesChinaLondonPartnersJapanArchitect Author:Zhang Xin
“China's economy became more complex. By now there is a large number of small- and medium-sized companies that work quite differently from big, state-owned enterprises. They don't follow any long-term business plan and don't rent office space for years to come. They start out and need an office right away, for a week, a month or half a year, and they want to be among other entrepreneurs like themselves.” WantNeedsYearsLongStatesBigsTermSpaceNumbersHalfCompanyEconomyPlansWeekMonthsOfficeEntrepreneurComplexesChinaMediumsLong TermEnterpriseLarge NumbersBusiness PlanHalf A YearOffice Space Author:Zhang Xin
“China has consistently surprised us. When I returned from the United States many years ago, it was unimaginable that we would end up where we are now. What China has achieved defies all logic. I credit this to the hard work and enterprising spirit of the Chinese people.” PeopleYearsEndsHardStatesSpiritUnitedUnited StatesHard WorkYears AgoLogicChinaCreditChineseConsistentlyUnimaginableEnterprising Author:Zhang Xin
“When we started out, we didn't really think that the era of great opportunity would end one day. We were much too busy developing our companies. But in today's China you can build a city, even a mega-city like Beijing or Shanghai, within 10 or 15 years. And then you are done. So in real estate development, the Gründerzeit is over. But that is not the case in other sectors.” ThinkingYearsRealEndsDoneTodayOpportunityCitiesCompanyCasesDevelopmentOne DayBusyChinaDevelopingErasEstatesToo BusyGreat OpportunityBeijingMegaShanghai Author:Zhang Xin
“Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that he will donate $45 billion of his wealth to philanthropy. Two years ago, my husband and I decided to endow $100 million to set up the SOHO China Scholars. This program will give financial aid to Chinese students so they can attend the best universities in the world.” WorldGivingYearsTwoWealthMillionsStudentsHusbandYears AgoProgramDecidedMarkUniversityFinancialChinaAidsBillionsChineseTwo YearsMy HusbandScholarPhilanthropyDonateTwo Years AgoZuckerbergSohoFinancial Aid Author:Zhang Xin
“I'm afraid what we are building today will not have the same impact and sustainability of the architecture of a 100, 500 or 1,000 years ago. The buildings of those days were miracles. We don't perform such miracles today. So we should be a little more modest. For my part, I'll be glad to show one of my buildings one day to my grandchildren and say: I'm proud of that.” ShouldYearsLittlesShowsTodayBuildingProudOne DayYears AgoMiracleImpactArchitectureGladSustainabilityModestGrandchildrenMy Grandchildren Author:Zhang Xin
