OMA - CCTV Completed

Yes, it's finished, China Central Television Headquarters by Ole Scheeren and Rem Koolhaas is a fact.

Check out Iwan Baan's photographs of the Design Exhibit at MOMA, where his giant photos form the backdrop to the architects presentation and his photos of the construction of CCTV.

Read Paul Goldberger's piece of June 2008 Forbidden Cities in the New Yorker and view the accompanying slide show with Iwan's images.

Remembering the devastating fire in February 2009, the delivery of this humongous project is an even bigger feat.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Flames

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Beijing has gone down in fire. The hotel which was scheduled to open in the coming summer of 2009 is part of the state owned and operated Beijing TV studios —CCTV— designed by OMA. The main towers and horizontal bridging section of CCTV have been spared. The blaze is said to have been caused by nearby lit fireworks.