Architecture can be a representation of status . Bank of China asked I.M. Pei to design a skyscraper for a challenging, steeply sloping plot – on a modest budget. The 367.4m building was much cheaper and more rapidly constructed than its neighbour, and its reflective facade and angular sections differentiated it from Central’s cluster of towers. Comprising a series of interlocking triangles, the structure took its cue from bamboo, signifying hope and rapid development in Chinese culture. The ingenious building also required 40% less steel than a conventional equivalent and could resist high-velocity winds – essential in a typhoon-prone city.