Beijing At Warp Speed
In a pair of essays, two RECORD editors look at the city's rapid transformation, try to make sense of the current boom, and ponder its future.
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Beijing at Warp Speed
A street in one of the city's fast-disappearing hutong.
Photo © Robert Ivy
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-02.jpg?t=1462382884&width=1080)
Beijing at Warp Speed
Crowds walking along the monumental avenue that runs in front of the Forbidden City.
Photo © Robert Ivy
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Beijing at Warp Speed
View of Beijing’s burgeoning central business district with CCTV and China World Trade Center under construction.
Photo © Robert Ivy
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-04.jpg?height=720&t=1462383077)
Beijing at Warp Speed
Model of the city at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall.
Photo © Robert Ivy
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-05.jpg?t=1462383251&width=1080)
Beijing at Warp Speed
SOM's Beijing Finance Street project.
Photo © Tim Griffith
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-06.jpg?t=1462383381&width=1080)
Beijing at Warp Speed
Ai Weiwei’s new gallery in an area outside of the Factory 798 district.
Photo courtesy Ai Weiwei
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-07.jpg?t=1462384877&width=1080)
Beijing at Warp Speed
The Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in one of Factory 798’s East German–designed buildings.
Photo © Tim Griffith
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-08.jpg?t=1462385026&width=1080)
Beijing at Warp Speed
Studio Pei-Zhu’s design for rejuvenating the Xisi Bei hutong.
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-09.jpg?t=1462385235&width=1080)
Beijing at Warp Speed
Buildings by LOT-EK at the Sanlitun complex.
Photo © Shuhe Architectural Photography
![Beijing at Warp Speed](https://www.architecturalrecord.com/ext/resources/Static_Images/Slideshow-Fixes/Slideshow-Fixes-10/Beijing-Warp-Speed-10.jpg?t=1462385374&width=1080)
Beijing at Warp Speed
Buildings by LOT-EK at the Sanlitun complex.
Photo © Shuhe Architectural Photography
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