duplitecture [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.
A few examples in China, the site of the term's inspiration, include an Eiffel Tower in Hangzhou and Shanghai's "Thames Town" (images here). 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.
The term was coined by Bianca Bosker in her 2013 book, Original Copies: Architectural Mimicry in Contemporary China. 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, creating a good copy is valuable and respectable, not only as a great learning tool, but as a showcase of technical ability.
In his piece for Wired, "Imitation Can Be the Sincerest Form of Innovation", Clive Thompson quotes a Chinese art scholar, relating a good copy to "a wild goose that flies along with its companion.” Thompson also points out that even "outright art forgery" has never been considered as dire a crime in China as it is in the West. He continues, quoting Bosker: “People in the US look at copies of these buildings and go, ‘How unoriginal!' But in China they go, ‘Isn’t this awesome? Look what we’ve done! We made the Eiffel Tower!'”
Additional background on how China began producing duplitecture can be found here. Of course the human-drawn lines separating concepts of tribute, homage, allusion, reference, copy, plagiarism, and duplicate are easily blurred – to some, copying is even a religious virtue.
Welcome to Archinect's Lexicon. Architecture notoriously appropriates and invents new language – sometimes to make appeals, sometimes to fill conceptual gaps, sometimes nonsensically. But once a word is used, it's alive, and part of the conversation. We're here to take notes.
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
No Comments
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.