zaha hadid: galaxy SOHO (chaoyangmen SOHO) now under construction

'galaxy soho' by zaha hadid, beijing, china
images courtesy of zaha hadid architects and SOHO china


now under construction is 'galaxy soho' by zaha hadid. located in beijing, china, the project - previously known as
chaoyangmen SOHO III - will become an integral part of the bustling city center. containing a mixed program of office,
retail and entertainment, the facility features an integrated environment of indoor and outdoor environments that look to
continuously interconnect the building with the encompassing city.

grand and dominant in its scale, the structure is composed of four continuous, flowing volumes, set apart and linked by a
series of stretched and winding bridges. each unique in form, the individual volumes adapt to each other in all directions,
generating a unit without corners or abrupt transitions that break the fluidity of its formal composition.



approach


as designboom previously reported, the inner arrangement is a reflection of traditional chinese architecture where courtyards
create an internal world of continuous open spaces. void of rigid blocks and linear organization, the interior areas are comprised
of volumes which come together to create a world of mutual adaptation and movement. shifting plateaus within the design
impact upon each other to generate a sense of immersion and envelopment. as users enter deeper into the building,
they discover intimate spaces that follow the same coherent formal logic of continuous curve-linearity.



the flowing form, void of ninety degree angles contrasts its surrounding context


the lower three levels of the complex will house public facilities for retail and entertainment. the levels immediately above
provide work spaces for clusters of innovative businesses and the top of the building is dedicated to bars, restaurants and cafes
that offer views of the surrounding city.



courtyard



view from bridge



interior



retail level



atrium



retail



reception in private office unit



bridge



looking down between volumes



night view



aerial view at night



site plan