Guess the Architecture Blog

Guess the Architecture

Guess the Architecture is a place for engineers to test their knowledge of world architecture. Each week the CR4 team will post a different piece of architecture from around the world. We're looking for guesses at where it might be, or some information regarding the structure in the comments below.

Got an image that you think would stump the community? Submit the photo (with a brief history) and we'll post it!*

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Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

Posted March 20, 2018 2:00 PM

SolarEagle provided this week's submission. Are you able to identify his building?

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#1

Re: Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

03/20/2018 2:06 PM

Kind of looks like a paddle wheel boat.

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#2

Re: Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

03/20/2018 4:14 PM

So, for giggles, I typed "building that looks like a paddle boat". Guess what I found?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Boat

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#3
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Re: Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

03/20/2018 4:44 PM

Interesting history...

"The Marble Boat (Chinese: 石舫; pinyin: Shí Fǎng), also known as the Boat of Purity and Ease, is a lakeside pavilion on the grounds of the Summer Palace in Beijing, China.

It was first erected in 1755 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor.[1] The original pavilion was made from a base of large stone blocks which supported a wooden superstructure done in a traditional Chinese design.[1]

In 1860, during the Second Opium War, the pavilion was destroyed by Anglo-French forces.[1] It was restored in 1893 on order of Empress Dowager Cixi.[1] In this restoration, a new two-story superstructure was designed which incorporated elements of European architecture. Like its predecessor, the new superstructure is made out of wood but it was painted to imitate marble. On each "deck", there is a large mirror to reflect the waters of the lake and give an impression of total immersion in the aquatic environment. Imitation paddlewheels on each side of the pavilion makes it look like a paddle steamer.[1] The pavilion has a sophisticated drainage system which channels rain water through four hollow pillars. The water is finally released into the lake through the mouths of four dragonheads.

The boat design of the pavilion may relate to a quote attributed to Wei Zheng, a Tang dynasty chancellor renowned for his honest advice. He is said to have told Emperor Taizong that "the waters that float the boat can also swallow it", implying that the people can support the emperor but can also topple him. With this in mind, the Qianlong Emperor might have chosen to construct the Marble Boat on a solid stone base to indicate that the Qing dynasty was not to be overthrown.

The Marble Boat is often seen as an ironic commentary on the fact that the money used to restore the Summer Palace largely came from funds originally earmarked for building up a new imperial navy.[2] The controller of the Admiralty, Prince Chun, owed much of his social standing as well as his appointment to Empress Dowager Cixi, who had adopted his eldest son, Zaitian, who was enthroned as the Guangxu Emperor. Because of this, he probably saw no other choice than to condone the embezzlement."...

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#6
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Re: Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

03/21/2018 5:43 PM

Can you post a diagram of the water drainage system.

Who were the Chinese engineers that designed it,

And did they design any other like systems you can cite ?

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Re: Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

03/22/2018 5:39 PM

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#4

Re: Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

03/21/2018 12:04 AM

Damn still too slow and I knew this one instantly, having been a couple of times. Its very impressive up close as is much of the Summer Palace.

The story is deeply ironic and with a lesson for our times. Even the mightiest powers can be felled by internal corruption.

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#5

Re: Guess the Architecture for 3/20/2018

03/21/2018 3:56 AM

Having walked past it, why yes.

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