Beijing's Skywalk-Linked Megacomplex a City Within a City

Beijing's Skywalk-Linked Megacomplex a City Within a City: "Beijing's Skywalk-Linked Megacomplex a City Within a City
By Cliff Kuang Email 01.18.08 | 6:00 PM
Photo: Iwan Baan
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Despite its famous Temple of Heaven, Beijing is far from paradise: horrendous traffic, brown air, and a climate politely classified as 'continental monsoon' — a hellish mix of triple-digit summers and subzero winters. That's why architects Steven Holl and Li Hu designed Linked Hybrid, a city within the city that will minimize forays outside by providing for nearly all of its residents' needs. Upon completion this summer, Linked will offer 650 luxury apartments to the same go-go Chinese capitalists dropping crisp yuan on Mercedes and Fendi.

The megacomplex is defined by a ring of eight 21-story towers, each with an upper-floor promenade and lounge, plus skywalks that connect to adjacent buildings. Galleries, cafés, bars, and shops will line these public passages. With its 82-floor hotel, the project boasts a total interior space of 2.4 million square feet, and the 15-acre grounds feature everything from a skateboard park to tai chi platforms. And, since this is a 21st-century Eden, elaborate water-recycling and geothermal-po"

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