In China, a media company has been ordered by the court to cough up $30,000 to a real estate developer for accusing one of their buildings of having bad feng shui, CNN reports.
In the post published by Zhuhai Shengun Internet Technology, a Chinese blogger warned of the building's inauspicious architecture, claiming that its "noxious energy" had led to the downfall of several of its tenants, many of which were initially promising tech start-ups.
The developers, SOHO China, sued the media company for the blog post's criticisms about Wangjing SOHO, an office complex designed by the late Iraqi-British architect, Zaha Hadid. In the suit, they claimed the post's "malicious insults" had damaged people's opinions of the building and smeared the company's reputation, seriously affecting their business.
Siding with the developer, the Chinese court in Beijing ruled that the media company needed to apologize and pay $30,000 in compensation. In their public verdict, the court reminded that the internet is not outside the bounds of the law, and that "the article applies superstition to Wangjing Soho building, which institutes defamation.”
The case highlights the significant considerations the ancient laws of feng shui have on Chinese architecture. It also raises important questions about the line between criticism of architecture and malicious slander.
4 Comments
Hmmm, one could define feng shui in rational design terms, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t matter in China’s legal system
"The case highlights the significant considerations the ancient laws of feng shui have on Chinese architecture."
Apparently not: the court ruled that Feng Shui is superstition.
Expressing an opinion about the building design is one thing. But warning people to stay away for their health and safety with no proof of harm and injury and also causing the company to lose money? Bloggers certainly do need to be careful what they say.
Confucius say: Buildings that look like mussel shells on edge have very bad Feng Shui. Chambered Nautilus shell have very good Feng Shui. You welcome.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.