Architects start to prosper in China; will builders follow?

The New York Times’ Lawrence Cheek writes of how a number of small- to mid-size architectural firms–including Stuart Silk, whose work in China is pictured–are gaining traction in China’s residential development landscape. Cheek writes, “These firms are grateful for the commissions, and not only for the obvious reason — that the Chinese work has helped fill the void left by a listless American economy. More intriguing, the architects say, is that Chinese developers and even government agencies are proving to be better clients than their American counterparts. They say the Chinese are more ambitious, more adventurous and even more willing to spend the money necessary to realize the designs. This thrills the architects, who have artistic undercurrents that often struggle to find an outlet.” Why not U.S.-based home builders and developers?
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