The Attic of Gnome — "The writing on the wall: the ubiquitous Chinese character "chai" ("demolish") puts its stamp outside the two remaining five-storey blocks at Hujialou, just by the prime Third Ring Road site where the iconic CCTV Towers are being built. Three households were holding out for adequate compensation before moving out. Several other families complained of having been forced out and being given small and suburban replacement flats. After a standoff with the authorities, the families moved out and the bulldozers moved in in early November. The CCTV Towers, designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas will be completed in time for the Beijing Olympics." ©Chiyin SIM