linked hybrid by steven holl architects
image courtesy steven holl architects

the council on tall buildings and urban habitat CTBUH has named steven holl architects
recently completed 'linked hybrid' complex in beijing, as winner of the CTBUH 2009
best tall building award.

annually, the CTBUH recognizes one outstanding tall building from each of four
geographical regions: americas, asia and australia, europe, and middle east and africa.

the 220,000 square-meter linked hybrid complex includes eight towers linked by a ring
of eight sky bridges housing a variety of public functions. the complex is located adjacent
to the former city perimeter of beijing. to counter the current privatized urban development
trends in china, the complex forms a new twenty-first century porous urban space, inviting
and open to the public from every side. in addition to more than 750 apartments, the complex
includes public, commercial, and recreational facilities as well as a hotel and school.

with sightlines around, over, and through multifaceted spatial layers, this 'city within a city'
has as one of its central aims the concept of public space within an urban environment,
and can support all the activities and programs for the daily lives of over 2500 inhabitants.
from the 18th floor a multi-functional series of skybridges with swimming pool, fitness center,
cafe, gallery, tearoom, etcetera connects the eight towers and offers views of the city. together
with the ground level passages and public programs, the skybridges aim to constantly generate
random relationships; functioning as social condensers in a special experience of city life for
both residents and visitors.

geo-thermal wells (660 at 100 meters deep) provide linked hybrid with cooling in summer
and heating in winter. all the water in the project is recycled, using a grey water system that
reuses an estimated 220,000 liters of water each day, resulting in a 41% decrease in potable
water usage.


image courtesy steven holl architects


image courtesy steven holl architects


image courtesy steven holl architects