The country's first provincial-level regulation to strengthen the management a city's skyline took effect in Tianjin, a legislator said.
The city's People's Congress announced on July 27 that it had reviewed and approved the decision to control the skyline in key areas.
The decision, which has 15 articles, clarifies the overall requirement that some areas should be involved in skyline control, including that of urban core areas, central areas, emerging towns and new areas, historical and cultural blocks, key city parks and public open spaces, open spaces on both sides of important rivers and offshore areas and other areas that have an important impact on the urban style and landscape.
Architectural design should focus on the control of building height, width, volume and shape, and strengthen the integrated design of building facades and building roofs to boost the coordination of new and old buildings in volume, style and color.
The regulation will also enhance the accessibility and visibility of landscape resources. The decision stipulates that Tianjin, an open coastal city, should create a unique coastal skyline landscape.
In addition, the city should respect the laws of urban development, optimize urban patterns and spatial forms. Apart from the requirements, the decision clarifies other specific measures.
First, it is clearly not allowed to violate laws and regulations, whether to demolish, modify or construct buildings without authorization, or to change the original facade, color or shape, further corroding the skyline.
Second, outdoor advertising, commercial plaques and landscape lighting should be coordinated with the architectural style, facade form and urban style.
Third, temporary facilities should be set up in a standardized way, such as barriers and overhead pipelines.
