Galaxy SOHO

Galaxy SOHO is a building complex in Beijing, China, designed by the architect Zaha Hadid. It was built between 2009 and 2012 at the southwest corner of the Chaoyangmen Bridge, on the Second Ring Road. It was the first of three Hadid buildings in Beijing, along with Wangjing SOHO and Leeza SOHO.

Instead of straight towers and corners, it has four rounded, domed shapes that melt into each other, joined by bridges and platforms. The complex covers about 330,000 m2 and holds shops, offices and entertainment spaces. The curved shapes were created with a parametric design, a method that uses computer rules to shape a building.

A new kind of courtyard

Hadid said she was reimagining the classical Chinese courtyard, an open space surrounded by buildings. The four domed volumes wrap around a series of public courtyards and a bigger central "canyon".

Curving floor plates fuse the shapes together, with white bands running around every floor. Hadid described the idea as an immersive, enveloping experience at the heart of Beijing.

Floors and debate

There are 18 floors in total. The lowest three hold shops and entertainment, floors 4 to 15 are offices, and the top three have bars, restaurants and cafes.

In 2013 Galaxy SOHO was nominated for the Lubetkin Prize. A Beijing group that protects heritage objected, saying the project harmed the old city's streets, hutongs (old alleys) and courtyard houses. The nomination led to this criticism of the project by the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Centre, which said the development harmed old Beijing.

On the globe

The model shows four rounded, dome-topped volumes joined by bridges, with continuous white bands flowing round every floor.