maybe not during earthquake season, but I don't see why not to otherwise. There should always be safety guidelines in place to protect the consumer, and the liability for the engineer(s) who approve these buildings should be astronomical in order to dissuade them from cutting corners & engaging in unsafe practices.

In the U.S. (can't speak for anywhere else), there is still so much new construction when we simultaneously have old buildings sitting empty and slowly decaying. There need to be more financial incentives for builders to restore existing structures. As it is, it is simply more affordable for them to build new structures than to overhaul old ones.

Fifteen days may be a bit deceiving since the total construction should include the amount of time that it took to pre-fab the components. But as far as putting all of that together in that time, it is amazing. Especially given the internal components like wiring and plumbing that are needed to make the hotel operational.

my husband just got back from Shanghai, and it seems buildings built in the 90's are cracking already.

Simply amazing! My husband is in the construction business and even he was stunned by this.

Intriguing information thanks for sharing.

I will echo SimplyCutebyKarin's sentiment. I see new homes being built down the road from where empty foreclosures stand & neither are selling.

Fascinating!

WoW!

I couldn't trust that they would be strong. I feel that 15 days to put it up is just not something that would make me think that it is safe. Also wondering if the materials used were high quality. Would have too many concerns to be comfortable to stay in one at all.

When my Grandfather built houses they were built to last. It is a shame that the integrity of the craft is disappearing.

Wow. I get trying to impress but that seems way to fast and almost unsafe.

This is somewhat scary... maybe it is just me but 15 days?. I wonder about the nuts and bolts of things... the safety after the fact?. It looks like it went up like a Leggo building. All I can say is that we are definitely in a new era and I wish it well.

Interesting! With today's technology, I am not surprised! They built that quicker than it is to get a permit to build, LOL! Thanks For Sharing

Thanks for sharing.

To be perfectly honest, I don't think China give a rats a** about the safety of their workers, the safety of their people or the safety of the world. It's not a surprise at all that cheap, fast and who-cares-if-it's-a-deathtrap is what makes them tick. I shiver when I see "made in china". Americans, BUY AMERICAN. Thank God for handmade.

As with a lot of other manufacturing in China, getting it done in 15 days doesn't mean it is better. China could be the best in manufacturing but so many companies want to produce it cheaper or faster which results in products that are not safe (eg. the dog food scandal) and poorly made. The cheapest, fastest route will only make money in the short run and could really cost in the long run.

I would spend the night scared, that's how. I'm skeptical of change you see.. interesting post :)

Nope, I am an Architect and I do not feel comfortable about only 15 days of construction time.

Very interesting...Thanks for the post. ~KK~

15 days is just crazy. Wonder how long it actually took to create all the prefab parts used in the making of the hotel...weeks...months...years perhaps?

The concept is great, but in order for it to truly be 15 days all the prefab parts would have to be considered "in stock" like when I go to Lowes and pull stuff off the shelf. Still it feels so lego like its amazing! I would stay in it.

15 days. Hmmm. I'd stay. I stay in San Francisco, Los Angeles and downtown New York. If it's modular, I wonder if they can take it apart in 15 years and reuse the parts for a new building.

Great topic. Easy come, easy go seems appropriate here. Our fair college town is suffering under the light pollution and shadow of "Garagezilla", a monstrosity of pre-fab "convenience". Each additional floor was more of a bargain than the three originally planned. It ballooned to 12 floors, and now destroys our downtown night sky like so many over-lit gas stations stacked on top of one another, so it's an eye-sore 24-7. It's empty because no one wants to walk the extra half mile to get down from the upper floors. And being so empty it doesn't feel safe either. A vicious cycle. Slow growth trees make the best shade, forests and wood products. Slow food lifestyle grows the healthiest happiest humans. Our cities shouldn't grow at the rate of malignant cancers.

China is a little bit terrifying, from an ecological standpoint- I know someone who went there recently, and couldn't get a flight out. They kept being cancelled because the smog was so bad. I can imagine that these are manufactured in the same mindset, and will have the same effect.

I observed such fast construction in China from a window of hotel. In current of 5 days the whole building has grown. But they worked and day and night at light of searchlight

I'd rather stay in an old haunted one.

I thought China already had a glut of empty buildings...

I thought China already had a glut of unused buildings....

That's amazing! Who knows what the future will hold.

DITTO for TheMillineryShop!!!!!!! And I agree with VoleedeMoineaux an old "haunted" one is more interesting. This structure will not stand the test of time to be old but destined to be haunted because it's a deathtrap waiting to happen.

Very interesting! Wonder if this is part of the Real Estate bubble in China? I wouldn't stay in it, too tall and too hard to get out if there is a fire.

This is amazing... but I am not really too sure if I'd want to stay in a hotel that was built in 15 days - no matter what country it might have been built in. Workmanship takes time in some cases. anyone else agree?

really interesting -- the constant construction is amazing.

To answer your question, no I would not. I'm a carpenter and prefer to sleep in structures that took more than a month to build.

i would in this one, beacuase, first, China knows we're watching, and after the bamboo stadium, they really want this one to succeed. it's not just a matter of pride, though, imagine what this could mean for their industry if it's a great thing? as for concern about concern about inexpensive materials being used in abusive situations, well, unfortunately humanity in general doesn't seem to excel in morals concerning that anywhere on Earth, the US of A included. inexpensive housding is so desperatly needed everywhere you look, though, not just China. i would bet that fore every three women in a happy stable living arrangement with a significant other, there's one that is in an unpleasant swituation, unhealthy for her and the children, and would not stay if they had somewhere to go. Do you have any idea how many people never returned to south Louisiana after Katrina and Rina because there's just no where to live? What couyld it mean for the people in Haiti, if it's safe for earthquakes, it can probably take the storms.

I would. There is not enough information, and who knows what can happen to me anywhere, at anytime.

Interesting; you might have to wonder about subbing quickness for quality. Low cost, affordable housing (with intelligent design) is something which I hope we will see more of in the future.

Being able to build a hotel in 15 days is an admirable feat in efficiency, but like anything else, there are tradeoffs. Builders will design things so that it can be built quickly to compete, and towns will lose aesthetic character. We all like to live in a world where we think it's possible to compete on things other than price, but will falling wages and rising living expenses, that is becoming harder and so I hope that faster and cheaper is not the only dominant rules the designers and builders are going by.

I hope they spent more than 15 days on the foundation... And would I sleep there? not very restfully.

That was fun to watch!

Interesting stuff. This reminds me, just a couple weeks ago the Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to Knoxville, just a quick drive from where I live. I know they just did their 'last season' but theyre apparentally airing a few special episodes later this year. Anywho, my brother got selected to be lead framer and in charge of the overall framing of the house and some condos they built on the site. They really do build the houses in just one week. We had 48 hours to get the framing completely done so they could spend the other 5 days doing finishing stuff and landscaping. It was pretty intense but using all prefabricated walls and stuff, we got it done. It also rained and even snowed like crazy the entire time. It was a great experience to say the least. They said it would be airing as a Thanksgiving episode later this year, I was on the job for 30 of the 48 hours spent framing so you may be able to spot me in the background somewhere. And I saw a few comments about the foundation, I know the foundations are entirely different on a 30 story hotel and a 2 story house but they poured foundation walls for the Extreme Makeover House and with certain additives we able to have it build ready in just 6 hours, and that was in the rain and snow. Like alot of people said, Im not certain of the integrity of the foundation or if the walls will still be standing in 5-10 years, but I witnessed it first hand. It is pretty amazing stuff.

"Would you spend a night in the T30 Hotel?" No. My Husband and I have been to China several times. I've been there several times more as I have Family living there in Chengdu and was there at the time of the earthquake in 2008. More to the point, My Husband, a construction engineer, was keenly interested in the (re)construction going on after that time. Mostly, it consists of new, modern skins being built around older, concrete block buildings. The older concrete structures that have had their facades removed then pulverise the old concrete and the "waste" is used as infill in the new surrounding walls. Rebar is straightened and reused, similar to construction techniques used in other countries like Haiti. Oh...and they use bamboo lashed together as scaffolding. Remember this a country with no labour laws per se, no OSHA, no workers' protections. It's pretty loosey-goosey. The funny thing about "earthquake-proof" is that many of the damaged buildings in China that are constructed in a known earthquake zone were also constructed to withstand tectonic forces. They didn't...especially the schools. What's to say this hotel will do likewise? Call me skeptical, but I have seen enough Chinese construction in various parts of the country to believe that the Chinese economic miracle is neither safe nor healthy. I'd rather stay in a guest hutong in Beijing that is 100 years old...assuming there are any left.

i'm not sure about other countries, but what i think the United States needs is large building projects that take MORE time, much more time. A massive project involving a large number of people that takes many years to complete. I think that sort of construction not only helps create work for the people, but builds a community mentality, and helps us loose our differences in the common task. Unfortunately in this time of instant gratification, I'm not sure we're willing to begin something that we may not see to the end. Just because we have the ability to do something doesn't mean we necessarily should.

And to answer the original question, No I dont think I would stay the night in it. I mean Im sure they have engineers and all that have thoroughly looked into all of the structures integrity but I still wouldnt risk being one of the first occupants.

i learn something new everyday here on these posts, that was very interesting, thanks for sharing!

That' amazing.Thanks for sharing

I don't think I would. Great article. Thanks.

After reading some of the comments here, I think that If in the video they show Japanese building a hotel in 15 days, I bet many people will say, oh wow, that's cool, smart and safe. I feel sorry that the many bad records of Chinese manufacturing have eclipsed the genuine advancement in China.

The speed is incredible, but I have to say, I'd rather stay in a hotel with more character.

Fascinating article. Technology really allows us to do incredible things these days. I wouldn't stay in this hotel - just yet. I think it needs to 'stand teh test of time' before I'd venture inside.

Stay? No! I prefer quality over quantity. More sustainable, ethical and quality housing ( China and everywhere else) is more important than cheap hotels.

Amazing to watch, makes you wonder about what homes of the future will be like. Its true though that there are so many places that need some love.

China has experienced many system failures because of their building boom - roads, buildings, etc. One section of a mountain road collapsed within a day of opening. I wouldn't stay there.

That's pretty extreme... I wonder if Ty Pennington was involved? :)

I'm surprised about the blatant racism expressed in this article - just because something is built fast doesn't mean it's built with inexpensive materials and that the integrity is questionable. If the structure is tested and passes every code and certification set by engineers, then who are you to say that the building is questionable? There are poorly built buildings in North America too. Just watch Holmes on Homes.

just because you build it faster, doesn't mean you're building it better. it's this type of thinking that has gotten us to where we are. yearing for a revival of craftsmanship that makes it apparent the maker 'cares' about what they make/build. my husband is a concrete construction foreman and would laugh at this one. I also saw a power point presentation on a foundation of a large apartment building in Chia that didn't survivemore than a short period of time, because of bad engineering with respect to the earth around it. toppled right over. I wouldn't stay it in for the life of me.

I couldn't stay in a place that high and built that quick....I rather have quality, not quantity.

this is crazy ... and i don't know if it's a good crazy . oh well such is our world ! i do like the energy efficiency ideas, etc . that is an incredible part of our technology these days . but i don't think popping up hotels in 15 days is sustainable ... especially if it is done 365 days a year in different locations . it might be a sustainable idea if this is the eco wave of the future . but i have a feeling it isn't . all in all pretty interesting stuff <3

This is what you can do when you have cheap, inexhaustible manpower.

Would you trust the integrety of the welds from someone getting paid a buck fifty an hour? I wouldn't

Oh yes, I remember this being built. The 15 days thing is so deceptive. It is built off site first, so it still needs to be built. Plus, it takes much longer to design a building that can be built so fast. So on the outside it may appear to have popped up quickly without thought for the design or having it built well. But, in truth, it is made very well and very sustainable. In a world where life is so fast, think of how quickly you send messages with your phone, prefab is going to become more and more mainstream in building design. For all you doubters out there, I wonder if you are sitting in a house built by a developer, chances are you are, and that my friend is one example of prefab.

This is just one reason I would not stay there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Chinese_drywall_controversy

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

CRAZY!

As the article states, "the hotel was built using prefabricated parts, constructed in a warehouse off-site". Homes and summer houses using prefab parts has already been the norm for years, at least in Finland. It's a great way to get affordable and durable housing quickly. The design and prefab parts just need to be of excellent quality to get this idea to work. -------------------------------------------- What I really don't understand is the xenophobic reactions and comments to this article.

I have seen a lot of videos coming out of china about ghost cites and they do build fast there.....Alot of the structures are already cracking and falling apart...I think their desire to build outweighs peoples ability to even afford the buildings they make...This is an interesting watch on a similar subject. It's sad cause the poverty over there is high and they spend money on buildings that nobody even lives in.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPILhiTJv7E

I re-read the comments I don't see anything racist in the article unless I'm missing something ? I assume some comments could be considered judgmental of the Chinese manufacturing industry but I hope not of the people. The industry / Government and the people are two different things...The Chinese need to work too...There is always two different sides to life for sure...

Impressive!!! but I would't be happy to stay in any building that was build in 15 days!

The sleeping giant awakens very quickly.

This is not a new concept. The Palacio Del Rio in San Antonio was built the same way in 1967, and it is still standing today. http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Process-still-stacks-up-778997.php

vau, mjau, čiv čiv.

wow that's impressive

Wow!

Great post. Love the comments.

I understand, when there's money construction moves faster. 15 days for a 30 story building seems crazy to me. I agree with the previous posts, not so sure about how safe I would feel in that building.

Well, considering the quality of just about everything that comes form China, I would doubt it being very safe. They SAY it can handle a scale of 9 earthquake , but I would not believe them.

cool!

What I found interesting is China's push on sustanibility

This is interesting. I know that Europe and now the US are starting to use materials that are better for the environment (ie, smog eating concrete), so I'd like to see these pre-fab building using more environmentally friendly materials.

wow! cool!

Please no negativity, surely we should respect these guys' huge effort and achievement. China is just starting out. Of course, I'd now like to see them do the same using totally recycled/renewable materials - don't bet against it in the future. This concept, done well, could provide quality affordable housing with a low environmental impact for construction and usage. Home is what you make of the place you live in... that's down to the imagination and attitude of the dweller.

"This is not a new concept. The Palacio Del Rio in San Antonio was built the same way in 1967, and it is still standing today. http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Process-still-stacks-up-778997.php" Great example by Peach tree. the 60's had some very innovative architecture. maybe it was ahead of it's time? Nice to hear its still standing.

we all shop at a superstore where everything is made in china but produce. it probably comes from chilli. i find the quality ok. lots of people must. i shop there because of variety and price and so do you. DONT YOU!

this superstore was probably prefabbed in china!

When we look at the pro's of prefab, super fast production, two of them are: -lower cost (=) affordable homes -automated process that reduces how much energy a human needs to provide (=) shorter work weeks "(=)" = "should equal" I say should equal, because the folks who have the money to own the factories that create prefab housing care more about increasing the gap between their cost and the consumer's cost. The gap is their profit ... their gain. So instead of making affordable housing ... instead of making easier, less stressful working situations - the housing costs do not fall as significantly AND they hire fewer workers, so the benefit falls into their pockets and not into society. Ahh , do you recall the idyllic 1950's movie dream of living in the future where everything is automated and the work week is 2 days? It's being replaced by massive unemployment and a huge gap between the rich and the poor.

I know that in Asia when there is road contraction they work through the night (which is great to avoid traffic jams during the day due to contraction) but a sky scraper in 15 days? i don't know if I would stay there? Its a creepy thought...