The October Issue of Urbane is Out: Behind the scenes of the CCTV Headquarters project

As the specter of winter cold looms around the corner, Urbane’s gaze turns toward another looming beast, as both of our features address the magnificently monstrous new CCTV headquarters project in Beijing’s CBD. Alex Pasternack slips behind the scenes of the CCTV project (Must See TV, p22), finding out why and how the people behind it have made it the way it is. Meanwhile, photographer Jim Gourley and his camera take a more pedestrian approach, appraising the structure from a thousand human perspectives (Transfixed, p28).

In the Dwell section, we recommend a palette of stylish autumnal decorations, as well as a slew of sleekly thin gadgets, and sit down with the designers behind the local product line Doublebrain. In our two design features, we go inside architect Wang Hui’s striking Changping District retreat as well as the gritty, seductive Hotel G by Gongti West Gate.

Meanwhile, outside of Beijing, ever-intrepid Robert la Bua does the best of Kuala Lumpur, and Amy Fabris-Shi takes in the Park Hyatt Shanghai, inside the Shanghai World Financial Center, now the world’s highest hotel. Gary Bowerman sends tidings from Tianjin (the “Shanghai of the North”), a fascinating, kinetic urban juggernaut right down the highway. Look out world; they’re way more than just baozi.

All that and golf’s World Club Championship coming to town, the ancient goddess temple on the Olympic Green, Biennales galore (Shanghai and Venice), and much more …

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