Queenstown, NZ, the latest addition to China's growing 'duplitecture' culture
by Tom Anstey | 12 Jun 2014
Queenstown is now known for its commerce-oriented tourism, especially adventure and ski tourism / Shutterstock
China’s latest piece of ‘duplitecture’ – architectural replicas of tourist areas and attractions around the world – will be a CN¥10.8bn (US$1.7bn, €1.3bn, £1bn) recreation of Queenstown in New Zealand, alongside imitations of Davos in Switzerland and a Scottish-style town.
The planned ski resort will be built with a “Queenstown-type feel” and will sit near another “mini-Queenstown” which will feature a scenic man-made blue lake, ski fields, a forest train, alpine pastures, attractions and theme parks.
Details on the Scottish town and Davos replica are yet to be announced, with developers currently seeking architects for each project.
The masterplan for the multi-billion dollar investment has been awarded to Sydney-based PTW Architects, who built Auckland's Vero Centre and have masterplanned several large-scale projects worldwide.
Copycat architecture, is a growing trend for attractions in mainland China, with everything from London’s pubs to Venice’s canals and even entire cities.
Copycat attractions are also a popular trend in the country, with a replica Titanic attraction most recently announced.
An unnamed Chinese investment firm is working with the Australia-based Besgate Group to build the resort in Xi'an Province, which is scheduled to be open by 2020.
China’s latest piece of ‘duplitecture’ – architectural replicas of tourist areas and attractions around the world – will be a CN¥10.8bn (US$1.7bn, €1.3bn, £1bn) recreation of Queenstown in New Zealand, alongside imitations of Davos in Switzerland and a Scottish-style town. The planned ski resort will be built with a “Queenstown-type feel” and will sit near another “mini-Queenstown” which will feature a scenic man-made blue lake, ski fields, a forest train,
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