喬伊·諾茨
Though a trip through Beijing has plenty of historical architecture to offer, the citys skyline also holds many feats of modern design. However, unlike Shanghai, where most of the great structures are gathered around the Pudong bend to be viewed all at once, Beijing has spread out its contemporary landmarks throughout the city, making it difficult for architectural enthusiasts to sneak a gander at all of them. We therefore decided to gather them all into one place. Here is our list of Beijings most iconic modern buildings:
CCTV Headquarters
The “Big Pants”, as it is more commonly known, is one of just ten buildings in the city over 200m tall. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Schreeren, the towering loop of two leaning towers connected at the top and bottom by horizontal off-shots is now such an iconic structure that it is often used in film and television to establish that the story is set in Beijing.
CITIC Tower
Standing at 528m, CITIC tower is Beijings tallest building, and the tenth tallest skyscraper in the world. It also goes by the name Zhōngguó Zūn due to its distinctive skinny-waist shape that bears resemblance to an ancient Chinese wine vessel. The office building serves as the headquarters of CITIC Group, but the basement level will soon contain a large shopping center and subway station.
Daxing International Airport
In an effort to alleviate the unceasing growth in traffic to and from Beijing Capital International Airport, a new airport was built just about as far south as you can go while still technically staying within the boundaries of Beijing. This star-shaped mega building was the last building designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid. The terminals, which cover a massive 700,000 square meters, feature an abundance of art, shopping, and dining, so visitors wont be nearly as bored as they are at Capital Airport.
Phoenix Center
Is it a smushed doughnut? A double helix? Perhaps a sort of Mobius strip? Lying at the southwest corner of Chaoyang Park, the Phoenix Center is an award-winning building that leaves much up to the interpretation of the on-looker. It was built to house Hong Kong broadcaster Phoenix TV, and occasionally opens to the public for exhibitions that show off the work of artists in addition to the stunning view from the inside.
Pangu Plaza
An unmissable structure when traveling through north Beijing, Pangu Plaza is the building with a wavy head. Its bizarre topper is meant to look like a dragon head (if you squint just right) that leads the body made up of four much shorter towers. As the logo on the side suggests, it is also housed IBMs China headquarters.
National Library North Area
The original National Library building, though it was built in 1987, would not look out of place in the China of old. Just after the Olympics, however, a sleek new building was added to the library campus. Appropriately, it somewhat resembles a giant silver book, or less appropriately, a ship from Star Trek, especially when the front windows are lit up at night (though youll have to venture to Fujian province to see a real USS Enterprise-shaped-building). As it is a public facility, you can even go see the inside of the building, and foreigners can obtain a reader card using their passport.
National Centre for the Performing Arts
Its not hard to see how this theater earned the nickname of the “Giant Egg.” With an opera hall, a music hall, several art exhibition halls, and restaurants, the National Centre for the Performing Arts is also the largest theater building in Asia. Besides the shape, its most distinctive feature is its exterior transitions from glass to titanium and the surrounding reflection pool.
Peoples Daily Headquarters
Not far from the Big Pants, the Peoples Daily Headquarters caught a lot of flack in the design world while it was under construction due to its rather phallic appearance. Upon completion, though, it was able to shed the laughter and hold the city in awe with its shiny new fa?ade that makes it look more like a wind sail. The original design included a helipad and planned for large satellite dishes to be placed within its hollow tip, but we like it just the way it turned out.
China World Tower
In contrast with the vase-like CITIC Tower, this the second tallest building in Beijing has a chubby waist and thins out at both ends. Its crowning feature is, of course, its crown, which catches the eye when gazing across the skyline. Atop sits Atmosphere Bar, which may just have the best view of the city of any bar in town.
National Stadium
Better known by its nickname the “Birds Nest”, the National Stadium is recognizable by its steel beams that intersect and criss-cross like a bamboo forest. The stadium, which seats 91,000 spectators, was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Since then it has been used for major football games and other sporting events. It is also scheduled to be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
National Aquatics Center
Another famous Olympic facility with a catchy nickname, the “Water Cube” is defined by its bubbly fa?ade and was used for the Olympic swimming competitions and afterward was opened to the public as an indoor water park. In preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics, it has undergone a transformation into an “Ice Cube” and will host the Olympic curling events.
Digital Beijing Building
This giant data center, too, was erected to serve the needs of the 2008 Olympics and sits adjacent to Pangu Plaza and the National Stadium. From the west-side view, fittingly, the Digital Beijing Buildings horizontal and diagonal lines evoke the circuits of a computer chip. From the south, one can see that the building is actually four separate sections, unequally divided and spaced.
Olympic Tower
Overlooking the Olympic Park, the Olympic Tower is made up of five connected towers that bloom into circular observation decks at the tops. The tower was built to commemorate the 2008 games coming to Beijing, and its only functional purpose is to get a nice view of the city.
Wangjing Soho
Wangjing Soho was designed by architect Zaha Hadid and features three separate shark fin-like buildings of varying heights and widths. At 200 meters, the tower is the worlds fifth tallest building designed by a woman.
Galaxy SOHO
This massive SOHO is another work of the late Hadid, and similarity can be seen in the vertical lines around the curvilinear buildings. Between its four towers lies a courtyard that has been known to host more than a few of our festivals.
Leeza Soho
Zaha Hadids final impression on Beijing, the Leeza Soho in Fengtai was completed at the end of 2019, and is a continuation of her fascination with curvilinear elements and design. At nearly 200-meters-tall, the atrium is the biggest in the world and is cleverly designed so that its 45-degree angle allows sunlight into all of its 46 floors, which mostly hold office space.
Beijing Poly Theatre
Built in 2000, Dongsishitiaos imposing Poly Theatre and sprawling bronze mural is likely one of the first buildings to catch the attention of visitors. The 1,400-seat theater houses plays, music, and opera throughout the year.
Bank of China Headquarters
The Bank of China Headquarters in Xicheng was designed by the late Guangzhou-born architect I. M. Pei, who died last year at the age of 102. Completed in 1982, the bank marks Peis first China-based project, 40 years after his initial departure, and eschews a skyscraper-type design for something more subdued so not to overshadow important low-lying structures in the heart of the Chinese capital such as the Forbidden City. Pei also leaves behind the Fragrant Hill Hotel in Beijings northwest.
北京城上下不僅擁有大量歷史建筑,其天際線更見證了當代建筑設計的輝煌成就。北京與上海不同:上海多數大型建筑都聚集在浦東江灣一帶,于一地即可欣賞完畢;而北京的當代地標建筑則分布在城市各處,建筑愛好者很難盡覽。因此,我們將北京最具標志性的現代建筑匯集于一處,以下便是這份清單:
中央電視臺總部大樓
俗稱“大褲衩”的中央電視臺總部大樓,是北京高度超過200米的十大建筑之一,設計者為雷姆·庫哈斯和奧雷·舍人。兩幢傾斜塔樓頂部和底部分別由橫向分支結構連接。這座高聳的環形建筑現已成為北京地標之一,其身影經常出現在故事背景為北京的電影和電視劇中。
中信大廈
中信大廈高528米,是北京目前最高的建筑物,也是世界第十高樓。由于其獨特的細腰形狀與中國古代的酒器尊相似,又被稱為“中國尊”。中信大廈是中信集團總部的辦公樓,但其地下層將很快有一個大型購物中心和地鐵站進駐。
大興國際機場
為了緩解北京首都國際機場不斷增長的運輸壓力,在北京最南端建造了一個新機場。這座六角星形巨型建筑是已故建筑師扎哈·哈迪德的收官之作。其航站樓占地達70萬平方米,擁有齊全的藝術、購物和餐飲場所,旅客不會像在首都國際機場那樣感到無聊。
鳳凰國際傳媒中心
壓扁的甜甜圈?雙螺旋?還是麥比烏斯帶?鳳凰國際傳媒中心坐落于朝陽公園的西南角。這座獲獎的建筑留給觀賞者無盡的遐想空間。該建筑是為香港廣播電視臺鳳凰衛視而建,偶爾會向公眾開放以展示內部的宏偉設計或舉辦藝術作品展覽。
盤古大觀
游覽北京北城時盤古大觀不容錯過。盤古大觀的頂部呈波浪形。如果您瞇眼從特定角度看過去,其造型奇特的頂部形似龍首,四棟矮很多的建筑依次延展,狀同龍身。大樓側面的標識顯示,這里也是IBM的中國總部所在地。
中國國家圖書館北區
原來的中國國家圖書館,雖然建于1987年,卻頗有中國古典建筑之美。然而,奧運會落幕后不久,一座造型流暢優美的嶄新建筑在圖書館院內拔地而起。恰如其分地講,這座建筑有點形似一部巨大的銀色書本;夸張點說,它看起來略似電影《星際迷航》中的一艘戰艦,特別是建筑正面的窗戶在夜晚被燈光照亮時。但如果你想見識真正的聯邦星艦企業號形狀的建筑,就得去福建省一探究竟了。中國國家圖書館是公共服務機構,你可以進入圖書館內部參觀。外國游客也可以持護照辦理讀者卡。
中國國家大劇院
不難想象中國國家大劇院是如何獲得“巨蛋”這一綽號的。劇院內設有歌劇院、音樂廳、多個藝術展廳和餐廳,是亞洲最大的劇院綜合體建筑。除了外形,其最顯著的特征還包括玻璃和鈦金屬板共同構成的外部幕墻及環繞四周倒映其影的人工湖。
人民日報社總部大樓
距“大褲衩”不遠便是人民日報社總部大樓。修建初期,由于其外觀頗似男性生殖器,該大樓的設計受到了建筑設計界的猛烈批判。不過,竣工后,它閃閃發光的新立面仿若風帆,不僅回擊了所有質疑嘲笑,更讓整個城市驚嘆不已。最初的設計包括一個停機坪,并計劃將大型衛星天線放置于大樓頂部的空心結構中,但我們更喜歡它現在的樣子。
國貿大廈
與花瓶形狀的中信大廈剛好相反,北京第二大高樓國貿大廈的輪廓是腰豐兩端細。其最大特色當然是樓頂。當您眺望天空的時候,一眼便會注意到它。位于大廈頂層的云·酷酒吧,享有最佳的景觀視野,可以俯瞰全城。
國家體育場
國家體育場有一個更為人熟知的外號“鳥巢”。體育場由縱橫交錯的鋼結構線條構架而成,仿若疏密有致的竹林,頗具辨識度。體育場為2008年夏季奧運會而建,可容納約91000名觀眾。奧運會結束后,它承辦了許多大型足球賽事及體育活動。國家體育館還將成為2022年冬奧會和冬殘奧會開閉幕式的舉辦場地。
國家游泳中心
另一著名的奧運會比賽場館擁有肥皂泡狀的外觀,人們為其起了一個朗朗上口的綽號“水立方”。國家游泳中心是奧運游泳比賽場地,賽后對公眾開放,成為室內水上樂園。為迎接2022年冬奧會,“水立方”已改造成“冰立方”,將作為奧運會冰壺項目的比賽場館。
數字北京大廈
這座雄偉的數字信息中心,同樣是服務2008年奧運會而建,毗鄰盤古大觀和國家體育場。從西側看去,數字北京大廈的水平線和對角線恰似計算機芯片的電路圖案。從南側看,可以看出該建筑物實際上是由四個獨立部分不均等分割排列而成。
北京奧林匹克塔
俯瞰整個奧林匹克公園的北京奧林匹克塔由五座相連的塔組合而成,塔的頂部逐漸向四周延展成環形觀光臺。該塔是為了紀念2008年北京奧運會而建,其唯一功能就是可以讓人們登高一覽城市美景。
望京SOHO
望京SOHO由扎哈·哈迪德設計,由三座高度和寬度都不同的鯊魚鰭外觀獨立建筑組成。該建筑高約200米,是出自女性建筑師之手的世界第五大高樓。
銀河SOHO
這座大型綜合項目是已故建筑師哈迪德的另一作品,延續了以往的建筑風格,垂直軸線環繞著圓潤流動的建筑空間。四座樓之間是下沉式廣場,因舉辦眾多節日活動而廣為人知。
麗澤SOHO
位于豐臺區的麗澤SOHO于2019年年底竣工,是扎哈·哈迪德留給北京的最后驚艷之作。該建筑延續了哈迪德的流線造型設計理念。麗澤SOHO的中庭高近200米,為世界之最,其45度角的巧妙設計可讓陽光照進全部46個樓層。樓內大部分都是辦公場所。
北京保利劇院
建于2000年,地處東四十條,宏偉的保利劇院及其長卷青銅壁畫算得上最早吸引游客眼球的打卡地之一。劇院共設1400多個座位,全年承接戲劇、音樂會和歌劇等各種類型的演出。
中國銀行總行大廈
位于北京西城區的中國銀行總行大廈由出生在廣州的已故建筑師貝聿銘設計。貝聿銘先生于2019年去世,享年102歲。中國銀行總行大廈于1982年竣工,是貝聿銘離開中國40年后首次操刀設計的中國項目。貝聿銘未將其設計為摩天大樓,而是限制其高度,以免讓首都中心地帶低矮卻極其重要的建筑黯然失色,如紫禁城。貝聿銘留給后世的作品還有北京西北部的香山飯店。? ? ? ? ? ?□
(譯者單位:成都大學)