New guidelines on urban planning will forbid the construction of “bizarre” and “odd-shaped” buildings that are devoid of character or cultural heritage. On the Block is a monthy series where we gather opinions on some of the unusual architecture that remains, from both an architectural and civilian viewpoint.
Wangjing SOHO, Wangjing
The Building
Wangjing SOHO, a project of the late, great Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, is made from a trio of office and retail spaces in Beijing’s famous K-Town (i.e. Wangjing). Surrounded by a 60,000-sqm park and comprising three towers of varying heights (118, 127 and 200 meters), the overall effect is one of interweaving ‘mountains.’ The towers are wrapped in ribbons of white aluminum, which break up the glazing to form narrow horizontal stripes, while its distinct shape is instantly recognizable from nearby Jingmi Lu and has since been imitated by other architects in China.
The Residents’ View
Wangjing barista Yo-Yo, 28, says: “It’s beautiful but I don’t think it’s very useful. In the winter it is quite windy and cold around the building.” Meanwhile local food deliverer Fan, 29, tells us: “I think its characteristics, such as the round shape of the towers, are very unique.”
The Architect’s View
Project architect at Buro Ole Scheeren, Virginia Chiappa Nunez, says: “The towers’ profiles continuously change when viewed from different angles, while its dramatic thinness gives the project an elegance. Unfortunately, the central space on the ground floor is devoid of rich urban life – the greatest ‘drama’ is a staircase that carries the public from the ground directly into the basement shopping mall.
“The landscape design is one of the most successful aspects of the project. The three towers themselves huddle together at the center of the site in order to provide generous gardens at the perimeter. Moreover, the architects have designed an open park that is permeable from all sides of the city, a rare urban occurrence in Beijing.”
Nunez reflects: “Zaha Hadid was one of the few architects who created something truly different, reflecting her own distinct background and personality. Wangjing SOHO might not be a project that best exemplifies all of her ambitions, but it is still interesting, as an architect, to visit.”
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