Located next to the central station, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, the shopping center, according to the developer KWG Group Holdings, was supposed to stand out from the environment - beige and gray buildings. On the contrary, according to local regulations, it could only be neutral.
A compromise was found with the help of a compact, but the highest form for this site - 36 meters (seven floors), which made it possible to increase the area to 40,000 m2. The multifaceted volume is tiled with iridescent ceramic tiles: to achieve this effect, the material produced in China was manually coated with three layers of glaze, each fired at a different temperature level. As a result, the building looks alternately light gray, sometimes multi-colored, matte or shiny, depending on the time of day and weather. It seems luxurious and discreet at the same time, as the partner in charge of the project, Jacob van Reiss, explains.
Monolithic parts of the facade are combined with "lattice" (depending on the needs of the shops behind them; the interior was not done by the architects MVRDV), as well as glazed - where the restaurants are located. Outdoor terraces, including the rooftop, are oriented towards the visible and distant sights of Beijing.
The three lower floors are occupied by shops, above there are cafes and bars, which are open in the evening and therefore received their lobby on the fourth floor, where an express lift leads from below.
