Chosen One : Galaxy SOHO, Beijing

Write up by Sir Cheapskate.

There's not much to be said to recognize the Galaxy SOHO as an iconic architecture of the now. It's unique on it's own and also in comparison with other buildings around it, in the aspects of its form, spatial flow, materials and most certainly branding.

We had a lot of discussions once we arrived here. It was really cold as we endured the peak winter weather in Beijing, that come to think of it, it was quite ridiculous of us to have sat in the courtyard for quite a long time while debating how this building is indeed as iconic as it has been identified.

Arriving at the Building

First and foremost, we arrived here via subway, which means that we emerged immediately onto the heart of the development - the Courtyard. This can be quite an unfair approach to Architectural critical evaluation because we already had our heads up as soon as we caught the first glimpse of this building.

I personally think that an Architecture should be evaluated from outside-in, as this is more neutral considering that we won't be overwhelmed by its scale right away.

Looking up only means that you are small, hence putting a sense of humbleness in you, like mosques and churches do. This building is not one of those two. So you will end up being overpowered instead.

The Master Builder

The Galaxy SOHO is the jewel of Zaha Hadid Architects in Beijing. The late Zaha Hadid is the Queen of Curves that instantly takes you centuries forward with her designs, perhaps almost transports you out of this world into space. This lady not only conquered Architectural design, but also fashion and furniture designs. It was an honour for us to have the chance to set foot in this masterpiece. It's a shrine. A holy site for us Architects.

Our first few conversations here were just words of awe. Couldn't believe our eyes at how successful the curves are built. Curves like these make the Courtyard more fluid in terms of spatial flow.

One would not feel too rushed to leave the Courtyard and certainly it didn't feel like it's a circulation or transition space. It felt like a stop, a proper node.

Straight or sharp walls can't achieve this quality. The connecting bridges at upper floors do not only physically connect the towers, but also create more dynamic and partial closure for the Courtyard below so you won't feel to overwhelmed or too opened to the sky, making the towers to appear shorter than they are as you stand at the Courtyard.

The Building

Here's how the building can be described; it has 5 towers altogether in which all of different heights. These towers are connected via sky bridges. The Courtyard is located in the middle of all these towers and is linked to all lift lobbies of the 5 towers. Lower levels serve as commercial retails and the higher levels are offices and SOHO.

However, the most important thing is that the towers are wider on ground and gets slimmer at the top, giving the illusion that they are more of volumetric structures rather than towers.

This seamless podium to tower transition is what's making all the tits of architects and designers all over the world uncalm. Get it? Okay.

Craftsmanship Wins

There's one other thing though. The longer we were there, the more our awe shifted from the Architect to the Contractors. It is really superb that the Architect can come up with such iconic design but it also takes a great craftsmanship from the actual builders to keep things up to standard.

The joints for all those exterior cladding panels are just so accurate that all those millennial OCDs would be so calm and collected. The desired curves are really indeed perfect curves.

Interior

As for the inside, we noticed that many shops are still vacant, probably too expensive or perhaps purchasers don't find curved walls and glass as efficient for their business. It was also hard to tell that you have moved from one tower to another as it is all seamless. Commendable atrium designs and trendy interior design for shops below.

There is no denial that this piece should be a stop for all you architecture enthusiasts, most importantly young designers and architecture students. Also, it's piece by Zaha Hadid, it's a sin to set foot in Beijing and not come here for photos so you can publish them on Facebook so your architect acquaintances can comment, "Wow!"

- Sir Cheapskate