Archinect - News2024-11-21T19:37:24-05:00https://archinect.com/news/article/114120516/archinect-s-lexicon-duplitecture
Archinect's Lexicon: "Duplitecture" Amelia Taylor-Hochberg2014-11-21T14:28:00-05:00>2014-12-04T19:22:06-05:00
<img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/3d/3d989npru4kv8u2q.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p><strong>duplitecture</strong> [d(y)o͞oplətek(t)SHər], noun: an intentional, functioning copy of a pre-existing, and often familiar, piece of architecture. For example, "Hangzhou's replication of Venice takes duplitecture to the city-level." This definition is Archinect's own wording.</p><p>A few examples in China, the site of the term's inspiration, include an Eiffel Tower in Hangzhou and Shanghai's "Thames Town" (images <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/02/duplitectural-marvels-exploring-chinas-replica-western-cities/273366/?single_page=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>). Ranging from single structures to entire communities, duplitecture is distinguished from mere models or miniatures (as are common in theme parks or historical institutions) by its use – duplitecture is not decorative or merely artistic.</p><p>The term was coined by Bianca Bosker in her 2013 book, <em><a href="http://biancabosker.com/OriginalCopies" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Original Copies: Architectural Mimicry in Contemporary China</a>. </em>She points out that while China is notorious for knocking off intellectual property (in the case of consumer technology and fashion as well as duplitecture), copying isn't considered bad in and of itself. In Chinese aesthetic tradition,...</p>