China Contemporary
By Michael Freeman and Xiao Dan Wang
Thames & Hudson, £24.95
FT Bookshop price £19.95

Dazzling new developments in architecture and design, fuelled by China’s recent economic boom, are characterised by innovation and experimentation. So this 264-page hardback doubles as an ideas source book as well as a visual feast.

A scenic tour of 36 properties belonging to architects, artists and other taste-makers reveals the latest trends through 285 colour images of interiors and exteriors shot by Michael Freeman, a photographer specialising in Oriental subjects.

The book is divided into four sections each prefaced by Xiao Dan Wang’s informative comments: Continuity (contemporary re-interpretations of Chinese traditions), Colour (weaving its cultural significance into a modern context), Conversion (visually stunning refurbishments of communist-era factories and apartment blocks) and Crossover (embracing western influences within the stylistic mix). Extended captions – irritatingly printed in tiny type – provide specific details and explanations.

Each section reveals the sheer ingenuity of contemporary Chinese design. Take the hallway that seems in perpetual motion due to the interplay of light on its sculptural panels. Or the cloud-like pendant lights hung above tall, mountain-shaped screens. If these ideas are indicative of China’s nascent design scene then its future holds considerable promise.