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China's Living Replica Cities
- Chinese suburbs contain full-scale replicas of European and American cities used as real residential communities.
- These "duplitecture" developments recreate iconic visuals rather than modern architecture, offering familiar symbolic environments.
A Sparkling, Controlled Copy Of Paris
- Bianca Bosker visited a Chinese copy of Paris with an Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and classic facades but no modern architecture.
- The development enforced rules like no laundry outside and no air conditioners to preserve the European illusion.
Replicas Mutate Through Adaptation
- Duplitecture often distorts scale and form, producing exaggerated or hybrid versions of originals rather than exact clones.
- Developers also adapt designs for local needs like Feng Shui while enforcing rules to avoid cultural intrusion.