I am not sure of the music that this airport invokes (see previous post), but Beijing's new airport certain has a quality of ambition (power), vastness, impersonal beauty, and remoteness. The sheer size and and its well designed elements provokes respect - Foster and Partners is very good at this

- yet the homogeneity of experience especially in the delirium of jet lag have one feeling a bit overwhelmed as the curve disappears into the haze. Airports have this strange anywhereness ... this one has a bit of THIS IS CHINA - and the sense of epic arrival of the old trains stations - yet

perhaps more of continuity with the global modernism experience. And it was a long journey to go from arrival to transfer to Nanjing but at least I got the full experience. And it was interesting to see the shell building over the parking garage that looked

very similar to the auditorium at Masdar! But it does have a green roof faintly discernible through the haze. Is that progress or paradox?