The Wangjing Soho is a complex of three modern skyscrapers located in the Wangjing neighborhood of Beijing, China. The buildings were designed by the renowned architect Zaha Hadid and completed in 2014. The Wangjing Soho has gained international recognition for its futuristic and fluid design, which features a series of interconnected towers that seem to flow and twist into one another.
The complex includes office space, apartments, and a shopping center. The towers range in height from 200 to 249 meters, and are supported by a series of slender columns that give the impression of the buildings floating above the ground. The facades of the towers are made up of a series of curved and angled glass panels that reflect the surrounding skyline and create a dynamic and ever-changing appearance.
Inside, the Wangjing Soho boasts a variety of modern amenities and features, including high-speed elevators, energy-efficient lighting and heating systems, and a state-of-the-art security system. The buildings are also designed to be environmentally friendly, with a number of sustainable features such as rainwater collection and solar panels.
Despite its impressive design and modern features, the Wangjing Soho has faced controversy and criticism in recent years. Some have argued that the complex is out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood, and that its towering presence has disrupted the local community. Others have pointed to the high cost of living and working in the complex, which some say is driving out local residents and businesses.
Despite these controversies, the Wangjing Soho remains a stunning and iconic example of modern architecture and design. Whether you are an architecture buff or simply looking for a unique and exciting place to visit, the Wangjing Soho is definitely worth checking out.
Design
The Wangjing Soho is a trio of skyscrapers designed by architect Zaha Hadid for SOHO China. The other two buildings in the complex are the Galaxy SOHO and Leeza SOHO. The towers are connected at some angles, but appear as individual buildings from others. They are strategically positioned near various transportation links. The Wangjing Soho is primarily intended for retail and office use and has a total construction floor area of 521,265 square meters. Each tower features a spacious entrance lobby with a high ceiling of 10 meters, which leads into the building and opens up to a central plaza and shopping street. The towers also have flexible, open-plan office spaces that range from 1,100 to 2,200 square meters, with windows that can be opened for natural ventilation. The glass and aluminum ribbon windows wrap around the tapering towers horizontally, providing ample natural light.
The towers of the Wangjing Soho surround new public spaces that serve both the complex's occupants and the local community. This connection to outdoor areas encourages people to spend time in the development, creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment. The complex includes a public park to the south and landscaped gardens to the north, as well as activity zones and water parks to the east and west. The four themed gardens cover an area of 50,000 square meters, with features such as a sports area, recreational theater, art sculptures, and waterscapes. The Wangjing Soho has a total above-ground floor area of 392,265 square meters, with an additional four levels below ground totaling 129,000 square meters. The basement includes secure parking for 8,256 bicycles, as well as showers and charging spaces for low-emission vehicles.
Construction
The architecture of the Wangjing Soho seeks to present itself as a symbol of modern technology, a perception that is reinforced by the fact that the complex was constructed using innovative solutions. The design firm Zaha Hadid Architects began work on the mixed-use complex in 2011, completing Tower 1 (118 meters) and Tower 2 (127 meters) by 2013 and Tower 3 by September 2014. The facade of the Wangjing Soho features a window wall system with double-insulated, unitized low-E glass. The external louvers are made up of curved horizontal ribbons of custom-designed white aluminum panels of varying heights, widths, and depths. These louvers provide overhangs for sun shading, maintenance terraces, and water collection. The interiors of the complex are engineered with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to keep the air fresh.
Sustainable Features
The Wangjing Soho building has been designed to meet the US Green Building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards and has obtained LEED Gold pre-certification. Its high-performance, low-emission glazing systems and MEP installations are specifically designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, potable water consumption, and energy use. In addition, about 40% of the water used in the complex is recycled and reused. Other sustainable features include energy-efficient control sensors, energy monitoring systems, heat recovery from exhaust air, and high-efficiency fans, pumps, boilers, and chillers.
These features enable the project to reduce energy expenses by nearly 13% and potable water consumption by 42% compared to buildings that meet the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards. The Wangjing Soho also uses low VOC interior materials to eliminate indoor pollution sources and provides fresh air at a rate that exceeds the ASHRAE standard by 30%.
The distinctive, curved and tapered structure of the Wangjing Soho, combined with its sustainable features, showcases an exceptional mixed-use architecture that has created an identity for the thriving Wangjing neighborhood, which is home to cultural institutions and IT companies.
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