Today, people in cities seem to most appreciate neighborhoods where they can enjoy both tranquility and vitality at the same time. Sanlitun SOHO is a sophisticated example of this model of urban development, combining a number of different uses with a sense of urban enclosure. It brings together retail establishments, offices, hotels, and residences, so it generates activity all day long. And by clustering its buildings along a curving, mid-block passageway, it creates the sense of a compact neighborhood with its own architectural identity.
Located to the south of Gongti North Road and to the west of South Sanlitun Road in the Chaoyang District of Beijing, the project continues the transformation of the once-seedy Sanlitun area into an upscale entertainment zone. That process began with Sanlitun Village, which was developed by Swire Properties and includes the Opposite House hotel designed by Kengo Kuma. Not to be outdone, SOHO China—one of the country's most successful developers—hired Kuma to master plan its own project and design the exteriors of the buildings too. Interiors were designed by a number of younger firms, including Sako Architects, MOD, and SPACE Ltd. SOHO envisioned its development as a busy hub for locals and tourists, with a broad assortment of boutiques, pubs, and restaurants, and plenty of creative companies incubating in the office towers. The 465,680-square-meter complex comprises five shopping malls with 128,000 square meters of retail space and nine towers of varying heights with 108,000 square meters of offices and 118,000 square meters of apartments. A roller skating rink and a waterscaped courtyard link the malls, a pedestrian shopping street, and an open plaza. Underground, the project provides 2,362 parking spaces for cars.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.