Man Made Marvels: China's National Theatre is a documentary produced by NHNZ and Beach House Pictures which is an episode of the Man Made Marvels series. The documentary follows the building of the Chinese National Theatre in Beijing.
China's National Theatre aired in South Africa for the first time on DStv's Discovery channel on Tuesday 24 June 2008, at 21h00. It is an hour long.
Repeats
Saturday 28 June: 13h45
Sunday 29 June: 01h55, 10h05
Synopsis
In 1998, China announced an international design competition, inviting the world's leading architects to design a national theatre: an iconic building that would stand in the centre of Beijing.
Architects from around the world vied for the prestigious project but it was French architect Paul Andreu who was announced as the winner.
Man Made Marvels reveals the splendour of China's first ever National Theatre. Andreu's design is a stunning glass and titanium ellipsoid dome that appears to float on an artificial lake.
Nicknamed 'The Egg', it will host opera, ballet and concerts. Yet the project hangs in the balance and problems arise almost immediately.
Zoning restrictions around the great historic architectural zone state that no building can be higher than the People's Hall. Since they can't build up, the constructors will have to build down; this involves digging the deepest foundations in Chinese history.