Galaxy SOHO () is an urban complex building located in

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. Built between 2009 and 2012, it is the first of three buildings designed by Iraqi-British architect

Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid ( ar, زها حديد ''Zahā Ḥadīd''; 31 October 1950 – 31 March 2016) was an Iraqi-British architect, artist and designer, recognised as a major figure in architecture of the late 20th and early 21st centu ...

located in Beijing, along with

Wangjing SOHO Wangjing SOHO () is a complex of three curvilinear asymmetric skyscrapers in Wangjing in Beijing, China, between central Beijing and Beijing Capital International Airport. The towers contain both office and retail space. Originally the SOHO w ...

and

Leeza SOHO Leeza SOHO (), also known as Li Ze Tower, is a Skyscraper located in the Lize Financial Business District in Beijing, China. SOHO China acquired land use rights in 2013 for ¥1.922 billion RMB (US$288 million). The construction of the building ...

. The building is located in the southwest corner of

Chaoyangmen Chaoyangmen (; Manchu:; Möllendorff:šun be aliha duka) was a gate in the former city wall of Beijing. It is now a transportation node and a district border in Beijing. It is located in the Dongcheng District of northeastern central Beijing. R ...

Bridge in the

Second Ring Road The 2nd Ring Road () is the innermost ring road highway which encircles the city center of Beijing, People's Republic of China. (The first ring road had been a circular tram route.) The ring road can be divided into two parts: the original rin ...

of Beijing. The complex features a curvilinear design consisting of four asymmetric continuous structures. It covers an area of 330,000 m². The parametric design of the building was inspired by classical Chinese courtyards. The complex offers shops, offices and entertainment facilities.

Design

The Galaxy Soho building comprises four main domed structures, fused together by bridges and platforms between curving floor plates to create a fluid environment that surrounds a series of public courtyards and a larger central "canyon." Zaha Hadid described the structure as "a reinventing of the classical Chinese courtyard which generates an immersive, enveloping experience at the Heart of Beijing." According to Zaha Hadid, the design is meant to "respond to the varied contextual relationships and dynamic conditions of Beijing." The exterior of the building is clad in

aluminium Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. I ...

and stone while the interior features glass, terrazzo, stainless steel and glass reinforced gypsum. The complex incorporates a cooled roofing system that minimizes the effects of microclimates caused by sustainable architectural strategies. There are 18 floors in total. The lower three levels of Galaxy SOHO house public facilities for retail and entertainment. The levels immediately above, from the fourth floor to the fifteenth, provide office spaces for businesses. The top three levels are dedicated to bars, restaurants and cafes that offer views along Beijing.

Awards

In 2013, Galaxy SOHO was nominated for the Lubetkin Prize by the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three supp ...

. The nomination drew criticism from the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Centre, which stated that the development had “caused great damage to the preservation of the old Beijing streetscape, the original urban plan, the traditional hutong and courtyard houses, the landscape formation, and the style and colour scheme of Beijing’s unique vernacular architecture.”

References

{{Reflist SOHO China Zaha Hadid buildings Postmodern architecture in China Buildings and structures in Dongcheng District, Beijing Office buildings completed in 2014 2014 establishments in China

Design

Awards

See also

References