Xidan Towers, located just a few blocks from historical Tiananmen Square, is the elegant solution to the challenge of tying together a series of scattered buildings into a coherent whole through the use of various linking spaces, plazas, and roof gardens.

Located on an exceptional site just a few blocks from Tiananmen Square in Beijing, this project initially presented the difficult challenge of tying together a series of scattered buildings into a coherent whole. The answer comes in the form of various linking spaces. The 8 towers, together with the smaller buildings, are united by a large plaza and yet visually differentiated into three separate and identifiable groups. One group of tall buildings, for example, is united by a roof level canopy, while another set features a glass-box effect at the top section.

Further, all of the buildings on the West Side are connected by two-story skirt buildings, each with roof gardens. Finally, a curved wall flanks the entire project and ties the complex of buildings together visually from the street front. The base of the 8 towers is the retail portion and is clad with indigenous stone for a solid and formal appearance. However, the upper residential levels are wrapped in lightweight aluminum. Here again, the materiality follows the formal structure, playing with a mix of modern and traditional.

Although originally proposed as a quick fix for a bland and blocky original design, the new Xidan Towers incorporate various profiles and details to create an engaging site for a changing society.