In the Mood for CCTV

It is hard not to mythologize the uncanny CCTV building: that Martian migrant workers are responsible, that there will be an invisible crutch supporting the central overhang, that it is merely a hologram — all falsities, as far as we can tell. But ever dedicated to sifting truth from truthiness, tbjblog will now delve into two recent CCTV rumors (to match the two towers of course)...

1. The towers will be connected next week

Despite earlier plans and reports, this is a dirty lie. The two leaning towers of the CBD may not connect until early next year.

2. Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung has connected with Ole Scheeren, architect of CCTV, Rem Koolhaas protégé

If you had bet 5 billion RMB, the official cost of CCTV, on this, you would now be able to buy 5 billion Beijing bus tickets. Word comes from none other than People's Daily and Xinhua that the two are an item. After sightings around Hong Kong, Cheung (张曼玉) and Schereen arrived arm and arm at the recent "Fashion Rocks" concert in London. And who would doubt it? After all, even if you had been swept off your feet by the impeccably sexy Tony Leung onscreen, and the similarly foxy Olivier Assayas, this is the man behind the world’s most hyped and insane building and protégé of the world’s most hyped and insane architect--and he's not bad looking either (tbjhome ran a profile of Ole last year).

The two also share an interest, it is reported, in film and photography (Cheung, whose last film was Assayas' Clean, is slated to appear in Pirelli's exclusive 2008 calendar, shot this year by Patrick Demarchelier). Still, Scheeren, who is seven years Cheung's junior, lives in Beijing practically full time (she hangs in Paris), and there's much work left to do on CCTV, which is expected to be completed in 2009. Let's hope they keep the fire burning at least until the towers hook up: The very top of the overhang would make a pretty hot date spot we bet.

Links and Sources:
People's Daily and Xinhua
Reuters
Arup
New York Times on Cheung
tbjhome on Scheeren