Galaxy Soho Building

Beijing , China
The Galaxy SOHO project in central Beijing for SOHO China is a 330 000m2 office, retail and entertainment
complex that will become an integral part of the living city, inspired by the grand scale of Beijing. Its
architecture is a composition of five continuous, flowing volumes that are set apart, fused or linked by
stretched bridges. These volumes adapt to each other in all directions, generating a panoramic architecture
without corners or abrupt transitions that break the fluidity of its formal composition.

The gracefully merging dynamic form of the architectural complex creates a fluid and continuous internal
space while establishing a striking and monumental presence along Beijing’s East 2nd Ring Road.

The Galaxy Soho building comprises four main domed structures, fused together by bridges and
platforms between curving floor plates to create a fluid environment that surrounds a series of public
courtyards and a larger central "canyon".

GENERAL INFORMATION

SITE AREA : 50,000SQ. M. GROSS FLOOR AREA : 328,204SQ. M.

OFFICE AREA : 161,034SQ. M. RETAIL AREA : 97,367SQ. M.

OFFICE FLOORS : F5-F18 RETAIL FLOORS : B1-F3

BUILDING HEIGHT : 60M COMPLETION YEAR : 2012

MATERIALS SKIN: 3mm Aluminium Exterior Cladding, Insulated Glass, Stone.

MATERIALS INTERIORS: Glass, Terrazzo, GRG, Stainless Steel, Gypsum Board Painted.

STRUCTURE: Standard Concrete Structure (8.4m spans).

FLOOR TO FLOOR HEIGHTS: Retail floors 5.4m, office floors 3.5m.

ZAHA HADID

SOHO China is honored to entrust the leading design firm, Pritzker Prize
winning Zaha Hadid Architects, to lend their design concept to this
development. The Laureate Pritzker Prize has been considered the "Nobel
Prize" of architecture. Zaha Hadid was the first female recipient of this
prize since its establishment 26 years before. Full of imagination and
surrealism, this unique design concept makes Galaxy SOHO a new
architectural landmark in Beijing on par with the Bird's Nest National
Stadium and the CCTV Tower. Zaha’s master pieces in China include:
Guangzhou Opera House, Galaxy SOHO and SOHO Peaks in Beijing, Sky
SOHO in Shanghai.
CONCEPT

TRADITIONAL COURTYARD HOUSE

RICE FIELDS

Towers are connected by stretched bridges, such as at the

base and at the midpoint. This concept creates
continuous interior space in the building and is
inspired from the ancient terraced agricultural fields
ELEVATION MATERIAL AND ELEMENTS

3 mm exterior aluminium cladding

PARAMETRIC DESIGN
Parametric design is an emerging concept of design process in which the parameters are interconnected as a
system. One parameter's change affects the whole network and causes global influence. Parametric design
creates systematic, adaptive variation, continuous differentiation, and dynamic figuration from the scale of
urbanism to the scale of architecture, interior and furniture.

"The design responds to the varied contextual relationships and dynamic conditions of Beijing," says Zaha
Hadid. "We have created a variety of public spaces that directly engage with the city, reinterpreting the
traditional urban fabric and contemporary living patterns into a seamless urban landscape inspired by nature."

There are 18 floors in total, including three below ground, with retail units surrounding the courtyards on the
lower levels, offices from floors four to 15, and restaurants and bars at the upper reaches.

The exterior of the building is clad in aluminium and stone while the interior features glass, terrazzo, stainless
steel and glass reinforced gypsum.
STREAMLINED POWER BUILDING ( UNIQUE LANDMARK )
One of the design concepts of the project is to create an internal world reflecting the theme of the Chinese
courtyard. At the same time, the project is very much a design of the 21st century – no longer working with
rigid blocks and the spaces between these blocks; but working with soft and malleable volumes which
coalesce, fuse, pull apart and connect with multiple stretched bridges in order to create a world of
synchronized adaptation and fluid movement within.

INTERPRETATION OF NATURE

The other concept of the design is inspired by the ancient Chinese terraced rice field. Derived from nature,
parametric design is the synthesis of contemporary digital technology and the natural landscape. The multiple
flowing plateaus act as a rice field in the mountains, connecting the various volumes, and forming an urban
landscape.
360 DEGREE FULL VIEW
The architectural approach for this project is to create an ensemble of individual volumes that blend together
to create a more monumental whole. The separate volumes have their own atrium and cores, but merge
together at various levels, providing shaded outdoor plateaus and internal spaces with dramatic views.

The shifting and moving plateaus shift multiple levels into each other's view forming a deep sense of
envelopment and immersion within an environment of stimulation. The architecture unfolds below, above, and
into layers in all directions with a logic of continuity and multi-level curvi-linearity. It is a 360-degree
architectural world which has no corners, no disrupted transitions, but in which everything evolves — very
much inspired by nature.

The project is comprised of deep vistas that are formulated by hundreds of meter of interests in all directions.
The strategy here is to create a space of easy flow and easy orientation. One discovers an interplay of light and
shadow and of closed and open space while moving within the volumes.

TRULY SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

Since its inception, the project has been designed and planned using a series of green building strategies in
pursuit of LEED certification. Bicycle storage, changing rooms, as well as preferred parking for low-emitting
and fuel-efficient vehicles are provided to encourage residents to choose green commuting. A cooled roof
reduces the heat island effect to minimize impact on the microclimate and residents. Gray water and water
efficient fixtures reduce at least 20% potable water consumption. Highly efficient lighting fixtures, chillers,
and double silver low-E glass achieve 14% energy saving off the building’s annual energy cost. Green
refrigerant minimizes ozone depletion and global warming. The installation of metering equipment to measure
office air-conditioning energy use increases energy use efficiency and reduces energy waste As of yet the
above strategies have been approved by USGBC pre-certification. The project is expected to achieve LEED
CS 2.0 Silver certification.
LANDSCAPE

Vivacious humanistic landscape design, the perfect combination of work and leisure.

Blurring the lines between form and function, interior and exterior, beauty and curiosity, the Galaxy SOHO
landscape invites the visitor to experience a series of dramatic views that are ‘out of this world’. The canyon
nestled between the sweeping curves of the buildings overhead, crisscrossed with graceful bridges, serves as
the central open air space for shopping, cafes and entertainment for all ages.

The plants around the perimeter of Galaxy SOHO are a juxtaposition of waving ornamental grasses alongside
sharply defined arching geometries flowing freely between the parametric curves of the structure and the
natural contours of the landscape. The vivaciously lively theme is carried forward into the evening with
specialized lighting effects to enhance the mood and the experience.

The great interior courts of the project are a reflection of traditional Chinese architecture where courtyards
create an internal world of continuous open spaces. Here, the architecture is no longer composed of rigid
blocks, but instead comprised of volumes which coalesce to create a world of continuous mutual adaptation
and fluid movement between each building. Shifting plateaus within the design impact upon each other to
generate a deep 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 curvelinearity.
The lower three levels of Galaxy SOHO
house public facilities for retail and
entertainment. The levels immediately
above provide work spaces for clusters
of innovative businesses. The top of the
building is dedicated to bars, restaurants
and cafés that offer views along one of
the greatest avenues of the city. These
different functions are interconnected
through intimate interiors that are always
linked with the city, helping to establish
Galaxy SOHO as a major urban
landmark for Beijing.
OFFICE SPACE DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE
Galaxy SOHO’s office space is located on floors 5 through 18 of the development with an overall office GFA
of approximately 166,000 square meters. Office space designs are diverse and can be easily adapted to varying
client and tenant needs. The fluid effect of the architecture and interior space can be enhanced with
complimentary furnishing and decoration.

Various types of office units are available, mainly ranging from 100 - 300 square meter units to satisfy varying
customer needs.

Each building benefits from natural lighting provided by the oval atrium corridor. The prominent difference
between Galaxy SOHO and traditional architecture is the form of the path to the office that creates a relaxing
and natural work environment. Top floor units have both indoor and outdoor areas allowing for the enjoyment
of both the internal and external landscape, unique views of the East 2nd Ring Road architectural cityscape
landscape’s large regional office buildings and the "galaxy" panorama can be enjoyed.

FEATURES
- Each tower’s top units have wide windows overlooking a broad a scenic view.
- Select units have access to water supply allowing for the addition of a restroom or bar to satisfy
specific customer needs.
 - The four towers are equipped with sky bridges joining them to the adjacent towers conveniently
accommodating communication and contact between office workers.
- Standard offices are 3.5 meters in height; The top three levels of three towers have 4.5 meter ceilings
suitable for special client needs.
- A select number of units feature outdoor gardens; A select number of penthouse units feature rooftop
terraces.
- The top floor of each tower has a total area around 2000 square meters suitable for large and medium-
sized companies to purchase and use.

LANDMARK RETAIL DESTINATION

Located on floors B1 to F4, Galaxy SOHO has a retail GFA of 86,000 square meters providing a convenient
destination for fine dining, shopping, and business meetings to the Beijing East Second Ring Road hub of
enterprise headquarters and surrounding business environment. The design of retail space embellishes the
Second Ring Road area, creating an exemplary outdoor recreational and public space for office workers and
visitors alike.

The defining features of the project maximize attraction for business operations.

Unit layouts are reasonable providing maximum satisfaction the hospitality and presentation preferences of
independent shop owners.
The four towers have skybridges at the third floor level connecting interiors and accommodating convenient
access to shops and restaurants in different towers for visitors and tenants.

The Galaxy SOHO plaza sunken canyon-style commercial street and Chaoyangmen subway transportation hub
(Subway lines 2 & 6) pool for human traffic while Galaxy SOHO’s first phase large-scale sunken square
(Bank of China) and second phase (Chaoyangmen SOHO) underground transportation network provide quick
and convenient transportation options for office workers and business people.

The third floor business decoration suite offers basic business decoration, saving or lessening the decoration
period upon early rental payment. The business decoration suite can provide appropriate decoration to
accommodate specific customer requirements for training centers, language schools, wedding photography as
well as other types of businesses.