Andrew Bae Jong Seong - Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China in part to protect the Chinese Empire or its prototypical states against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike peoples or forces.Furthermore, the defensive characteristics of the Great Wall were enhanced by the construction of watch towers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signaling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor. Although it caused many deaths, the Great Wall of China was still strongly built and it is also served as a historical structure in China. I still cannot believe that it is built by human beings, I learned that no matter how hard the task is, if we can unite as one, motivate each other, the task could be done.

EVELYN ANG (2) 2J 兵马俑

The Terracotta Army or the "Terracotta Warriors and Horses", is a collection of terracotta sculptures of the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC. It is believed to protect the emperor in his afterlife.

        (Erm.. Not really handsome...)

The figures, dating from around the late third century BC, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits near by Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. I felt that it is quite honorable, since a king has so many people to 'protect' him even in the afterlife, and quite amazed by the olden Chinese's way of thinking... Hmm. Quite unique...

                    (It feels so majestic! OMG!)

BIRD'S NEST STADIUM GRACE DENG ZHEYUN (7) GROUP 5 2J

         The Bird's Nest (鸟巢), officially known as Beijing National Stadium (国家体育场), was the crown jewel of the Olympic Green (in case you don't know, the Olympic Green is an Olympic Park in Chaoyang District, Beijing, China constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics). The stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

Overview of Bird's Nest Stadium (Ah.. Nice..)

        I first saw it through a book, introducing all the great architectures of the world. Beijing National Stadium is one of them. Like its name, the Bird's Nest looks like the home of a big, enormous bird. As I was interested in it, I searched online for more interesting details about it. The stadium has a volume of three million cubic metres (omg!!) and is considered to be the world's largest enclosed space! It also features monstrous (I totally agree) steel elements weighing up to 350 tons a piece intertwined in such a fashion that this gargantuan structure actually looks quite delicate. I googled the pictures of it, and guess what? As I saw the interior of the stadium, I was shocked. Who can design such a complicated and unconventional building? They are Ai Weiwei, Jacques Herzog,Li Xinggang and Pierre de Meuron. Ok, but my main point isn't about the architects, it's about the design. The interior looks magnificent, like we are some wriggly worms in the huge nest. There are poles which looks like twigs of nests hanging from the building! 

Complicated, artistic, huh?

             However, it's also quite risky. Imagine, over 70% of the building's weight hangs over the audience's head. What if it is not strong enough... And sways and sways... And finally... Finally... drops? Er... Let's stop thinking in that direction... Although there is a risk, I still choose to believe that the poles will not drop to the ground.  Although seemingly random, the pattern abides by complex rules imposed on the structure in order to be able to define the geometry. So, let's put 100 hearts--放一百个心好了，不会有事的! 

'Fraid not!

As what the Chinese believes, the circular shape of the stadium represents heaven and the circular form of the National Stadium represents Heaven, while the adjacent square form of the National Aquatics Centre (北京國家游泳中心) or Water Cube, is a reflection of the Chinese symbol for Earth. With the heaven and the Earth, this is the world!

One heaven and one Earth, 绝配！

Just like the Great War of China, Beijing National stadium is a magnificent building. It's a pity to not have been listed in the Seven wonders of the world... :~( Everyone will definitely remember it! From this research and this design, I've learnt a lot. We have to think out of the box (creatively) when inventing or designing things, so that your's will be a uniquely new design. 

LEONARD SIM (30) GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Leonard Sim (30) 2J
The Great Wall of China was built from the 3rd century BC to 17th century AD.The Great Wall reflects collision and exchanges between agricultural civilizations and nomadic civilizations in ancient China. It provides evidence of the far-sighted political strategic thinking and mighty military and national defence forces of ancient China, and is an outstanding example of the superb military technology and art of ancient China at that point in time. It's significance as the national symbol for ensuring the security of the country and its people is widely known in China.