Beijing Man Builds Rock Penthouse On Top Of Apartment Tower
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
#apartment #china #beijing #architecture
A Chinese man is believed to have illegally built an astonishing rooftop palace on the top of a residential building in Beijing. The bizarre two-story edifice - which looks like it has been carved from a mountainside - was constructed by a man known only as Professor Zhang on the top of a suburban apartment block.
The professor is said to have spent over six years building his home, after knocking down the penthouse he bought on the 26th floor in 2007. The rocks, said to be imitation shells rather than solid stone, have trees and bushes growing among them, as in classical Chinese landscape painting. Poking out from between them, sections of the house underneath can be seen - a blue-framed window here, a balcony under a curved roof there. The property even has a rocky mountain garden, complete with rubble and shrubbery.
Residents of other apartments in the block claim they have been disturbed by constant noise from the property's construction, as well as problems with leaks and cracks. One resident said that several neighbors had even chosen to move out because of the villa. Others complained about damage to pipes and walls in their units.
According to Chinese regulations and laws, the structure and layout of buildings cannot be changed without going through legal procedures to get the approval of relevant departments. So the owner of the villa in Haidian district and head of a traditional Chinese medicine chain, is required to demolish the structure within 15 days from August 12. As the owner of the house did not get prior approval from the government, the structure was ruled illegal by the Beijing construction authority. If Zhang does not provide documents to defend his right to keep the villa or does not demolish it in the allotted time, it will be demolished by chengguan after government approval.
The professor is said to have spent over six years building his home, after knocking down the penthouse he bought on the 26th floor in 2007. The rocks, said to be imitation shells rather than solid stone, have trees and bushes growing among them, as in classical Chinese landscape painting. Poking out from between them, sections of the house underneath can be seen - a blue-framed window here, a balcony under a curved roof there. The property even has a rocky mountain garden, complete with rubble and shrubbery.
Residents of other apartments in the block claim they have been disturbed by constant noise from the property's construction, as well as problems with leaks and cracks. One resident said that several neighbors had even chosen to move out because of the villa. Others complained about damage to pipes and walls in their units.
According to Chinese regulations and laws, the structure and layout of buildings cannot be changed without going through legal procedures to get the approval of relevant departments. So the owner of the villa in Haidian district and head of a traditional Chinese medicine chain, is required to demolish the structure within 15 days from August 12. As the owner of the house did not get prior approval from the government, the structure was ruled illegal by the Beijing construction authority. If Zhang does not provide documents to defend his right to keep the villa or does not demolish it in the allotted time, it will be demolished by chengguan after government approval.
