Far and away, architect Bruno Soares's swooping masterpiece of marble, steel cladding and aluminium trusses is my favourite structure in Macau. There's an understated elegance to it all, a quiet certitude amidst the decaying rubble of the old city and the garish neon of the casinos. That's why I asked Chris if we could spend a couple of hours to revisit my favourite part of Macau. Thankfully, he said yes.
The Macao Cultural Centre is surrounded by the utter fakeness of the Fisherman's Wharf one one side and the ostentatious gold-ness of the Sands on the other. On yet one side is I.M. Pei's deliciously curvaceous Macao Science Centre and on the other side is the Art Museum. Nothing makes me happier than the triumph of beauty over ugliness. And on this side of town, the architectural triumphs far outweigh the shocking eyesores.
My favourite bit: The courtyard features three enormous space frames. I thought the purpose was purely aesthetic, but at some time in the afternoon, the skinny shadows of the louvers aligned to create a continuous shaded tunnel. I also saw later that these three tall trellises supported the courtyard's nighttime lighting system.
Brilliant.
With Affection,
James
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