Architects: Studio Pei-Zhu
8 Jun 2008
Beijing Municipal Government has promised to the world that Beijing will
present an Olympics which has the highest technological content in history
in 2008. As the landmark building of the Digital Olympics, the Digital
Beijing Building will be located at the northern end of the central axis,
neighbouring the core area of the Olympics Centre, the National Stadium
and National Swimming Centre. Seven internationally renowned architectural
firms participated in the competition for Digital Beijing, our scheme
was selected a winning scheme, and has already been under construction.
The Digital Beijing Building, nearly 100,000 square meters in area, will
serve as the control centre and the data centre of Beijing Olympics, 2008.
At other times, it will accommodate a virtual museum of Digital Olympics
and an exhibition centre for manufacturers of digital products.
Photos: Liu Wentian
The rapid development of the digital age has greatly impacted on our society,
life and city. If the industrial revolution has resulted in Modernism,
the Digital Beijing Building begins to explore what will occur in the
digital epoch.
The concept for Digital Beijing was developed through reconsideration
and reflection on contemporary architecture in the era of digit and information.
Appearing like digital bar code, and an integrated circuit board, it emerges
from a serene water surface. Here we are seeking a specific form, trying
to reveal an enlarged micro world suggestive of the microchips abundant
but ignored in our daily life. With an abstracted mass, like the simple
repetition of digit 0 and 1, this building will be an impressive symbol
of the Digital Olympics and of the information era.
In the future, we expect the Digital Beijing Building will always be under
renovation, evolving keeping pace with technology.
Photos: Iwan Baan
Digital Beijing - images / text from Studio Pei-Zhu Jun08
Photos: Fang Zhenning
Project title: Digital Beijing
Program: Control and Data Centre of Beijing Olympics2008, Beijing
Client: Beijing Network Information Industry Office
Location: Beijing Olympic Park, Beijing, China
Award: International competition 1st prize
Photos: Fang Zhenning
Architects: Pei Zhu, Tong Wu, Hui Wang\Studio Pei-Zhu & Urbanus
Associates in charge: Liu Wentian, Lin Lin
Design team: Tian Qi, Zeng Xiaoming, He Fan, Li Chun
Structural consultant
Engineer: China Institute Building Standard Design & Research
Photo: Dan Chuang
Design: 2004-05
Construction: 2005-07
Completion: 2007
Photo: Li Yongquan
Structure and materials: Reinforced concrete and Steel frame
Total building area: 98,000 sq. meters
Beijing Convention
Centre
Beijing Architecture
Photos
Beijing Buildings
Studio Pei-Zhu
Beijing Architecture
: China
Comments / photos for the Digital Beijing Architecture page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk
Digital Beijing - page :
adrian welch / isabelle lomholt