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Demolition Begins on Hidden Forest House in Guangzhou

Posted: 04/17/2014 10:23 am

guangzhou illegal structure penthouse treehouse tianhe demolition extra stories“Clear-cutting” has begun on the forest built on top of a Guangzhou apartment building to hide illegally-constructed floors. Local chengguan and the owner of what has been called “Guangzhou’s most ‘niu’ illegal building” have reached an agreement to start demolition on the treehouse penthouse, Nanfang Daily reported.

We’re trying to imagine just what kind of negotiation took place as a source with the chengguan revealed the legality of the building was never actually determined. Instead, demolition was initiated since the owner was anxious Guangzhou residents couldn’t see the virtual forest for the trees.

guangzhou illegal structure penthouse treehouse tianhe demolition extra stories

In a move that may further deter the promotion of Shenzhen rooftops as a green space, we note with bemusement that the colloquial name given by the Chinese press to this apartment is “big green hat”. For those who have never been on the receiving end of this insult, “wearing a green hat” is the Chinese euphemism for  a “cuckold”.

Located in North Haitangge Neighborhood of Tianhe District, we imagine Poison Ivy is currently cursing at the Caped Crusader and is plotting from another secret lair, perhaps from the rooftop temple located in Shenzhen.

 

Photos: Nanfang Daily, ChinaNews via bzcm

Haohao

Citizen-Proposed Parks to Complement 1037 New Provincial Parks

Posted: 04/16/2014 3:53 pm

Want more nature in your life? Want to feel the grass beneath your feet as you feel the breeze of a blue sky regaling you in its silent song?

The Futian District Urban Management Bureau wants to hear your suggestions. A plan to turn vacant lots into usable community park spaces is now open to proposals from Shenzhen residents to suggest which places will make suitable local greenery.

Suggested park spaces must meet certain conditions: they must be in close proximity to residential and commercial areas, and they must be of a size more than 1,000 square meters in space.

This proposal comes as Guangdong looks to increase its park space around the entire province. Guangdong provincial forestry officials stated that an additional 1037 forest parks and 168 wetlands will be made by 2017. Yes, you read that correctly: 1037 parks: 518 parks to be built by 2015, and another 519 to be finished by 2017.

To focus on the city of Guangzhou as an example, local residents will expect 20 new parks to be built by 2015 and another 19 built by 2017 to complement the 15 forestry parks already “under construction“.

Officials are said to be sizing up potential park sites in Panyu, Baiyun, Huadu, Conghua, Luogang, Nansha and Zengcheng, but don’t let that deter you, Shenzhen residents! Call or e-mail your local Futian District Urban Management Bureau to let them know where you want them to “park” it!

Futian District Urban Management Bureau
(0755) 8297 8013

Photo: Juneau Park Friends

Haohao

Shenzhen promotes rooftop greenery to improve environment

Posted: 11/1/2013 7:00 am

The rooftop of Futian Produce Wholesale Market has a vegetable garden, image courtesy of Shenzhen Daily

With a population of over 15 million people and the nation’s worst traffic, Shenzhen has to find some way of balancing the eco-system.

That is why the city is following Beijing and Shanghai by covering more rooftops in greenery, as Shenzhen Daily reported yesterday.

A seminar on this process, known as vertical greening, will be held in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao from November 23 to 27.

Vertical greening can reduce energy costs by cooling and insulating buildings. It also offer environmental benefits, purifying the air, reducing dust, noise and carbon dioxide while producing oxygen.

Citizens enjoy a leisurely hour at dusk on the green-covered rooftop of Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian District, image courtesy of Shenzhen Daily.

Tan Tianying, president of Beijing Green Roof Association, said plants and water have been proven to be among the most effective measures to degrade and dilute PM2.5, which is a worry for everybody who lives in a major Chinese city.

Tan also said a layer of plants and earth can cut the rate of heat absorption through the roof in summer by 84 percent.

And according to treehugger.com, rooftop farming is being pioneered in China.

Haohao
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