In the heart of Beijing, the Linked Hybrid project redefines the boundaries of urban architecture, offering a paradigm shift from the privatized developments dominating contemporary China. Designed to counteract the isolation of modern towers, Linked Hybrid creates a porous, interactive, and sustainable urban ecosystem. This “city within a city” not only integrates residential, commercial, educational, and recreational spaces but also emphasizes connectivity and ecological responsibility, marking it as a landmark of twenty-first-century urban design.
Linked Hybrid Technical Information
- Architects1-14: Steven Holl Architects
- Location: Beijing, China
- Topics: Urban Porosity
- Area: 220,000 m2 | 2,368,000 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2003 – 2009
- Photographs: © Iwan Baan, © Shu He
The 220,000 square-meter Linked Hybrid complex in Beijing aims to counter the current privatized urban developments in China by creating a twenty-first-century porous urban space, inviting and open to the public from every side.
– Steven Holl Architects
Linked Hybrid Photographs
Linked Hybrid: Architecture as Urban Experience
The Linked Hybrid complex revolves around a groundbreaking concept: an interconnected ‘open city’ that transcends physical barriers. At ground level, the design fosters accessibility through open passages flanked by ‘micro-urbanisms’ — small-scale shops and pedestrian pathways that encourage community interactions. A large central reflecting pond anchors this space, adding a serene dimension to the urban hustle. This pond showcases advanced design principles that align with the best top-notch pond and lake supplies, seamlessly blending aesthetics and functionality to enhance the urban experience.
Spatial transitions in Linked Hybrid are anything but linear. Movement through the site resembles a cinematic experience, with ramps, turns, and elevators orchestrating a sequence of dynamic perspectives. The design transforms everyday journeys into immersive spatial narratives, challenging the static nature of conventional high-rise developments.
This approach extends vertically through multi-functional skybridges that span the 12th to 18th floors. These elevated corridors interconnect eight residential towers and a hotel, housing shared amenities such as a swimming pool, fitness room, café, and gallery. The skybridges offer sweeping views of Beijing and serve as a microcosm of urban life in the sky, blending private and communal realms.
Programmatic and Social Connectivity
At its core, Linked Hybrid aspires to be more than a residential complex; it aims to function as a vibrant urban hub. The ground level brims with public amenities, including a restaurant, hotel, Montessori school, kindergarten, and cinema, each seamlessly integrated with green spaces. These elements collectively create a base loop, inviting visitors and residents alike to experience a shared sense of place.
The skybridges introduce a second loop, establishing a semi-public realm high above the city. These elevated pathways transform the residential towers into interlinked social hubs, fostering encounters and interactions. Together, the base and sky-loops function as social condensers, generating spontaneous relationships and infusing the architecture with an organic, lived-in quality.
Sustainable Innovation and Environmental Design
Linked Hybrid’s sustainability credentials stand out as a model for future urban developments. The project employs a pioneering geothermal well system, with 655 wells drilled to a depth of 100 meters. This system provides efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer, significantly reducing the project’s environmental footprint.
A central reflecting pond enhances both aesthetics and functionality. It incorporates a greywater recycling system and serves as a focal point for the development. During the winter months, the pond freezes, transforming into an ice-skating rink that adds seasonal charm to the complex. These innovative design strategies highlight the integration of ecology and urban living.
Aesthetic and Cultural Resonance
The architectural language of Linked Hybrid draws inspiration from Chinese Buddhist temples, evident in its vibrant color palette and layered design. The underside of the skybridges and cantilevered portions glow with hues inspired by ancient temples, creating a striking visual identity, particularly at night. The window jambs are uniquely colored based on chance operations derived from the Book of Changes, further embedding cultural significance into the design.
The cinematheque, a key feature of the complex, encapsulates the fusion of function and form. Floating above the reflecting pond, its reflective façades double as projection screens, turning the building into a dynamic visual centerpiece. Inside, the cinematheque offers community-focused programming and spectacular views, reinforcing its role as a cultural and social hub.
Linked Hybrid in Beijing exemplifies how architecture can transcend traditional boundaries to foster a more inclusive, interactive, and sustainable urban experience. Through its innovative spatial design, social connectivity, and environmental strategies, the project addresses the challenges of urban living in the twenty-first century. More than a collection of towers, Linked Hybrid serves as a vision for interconnected living, offering lessons in how architecture can enrich both individual and communal lives.
Linked Hybrid Plans
Linked Hybrid Image Gallery
About Steven Holl
Steven Holl is a renowned American architect celebrated for his innovative and human-centered approach to architecture. Born in 1947 in Bremerton, Washington, Holl is the founder of Steven Holl Architects, an internationally acclaimed firm recognized for blending spatial experimentation with sustainable and poetic design. His work often explores the intersection of light, materiality, and phenomenology, creating buildings that respond thoughtfully to their cultural and environmental contexts. Holl’s portfolio includes iconic projects like the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Addition, the Simmons Hall at MIT, and the Chapel of St. Ignatius. A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the AIA Gold Medal and the RIBA International Prize, Holl is a leading figure in contemporary architecture.
Notes & Additional Credits
Client: Modern Green Development Co., Ltd. Beijing
Design Architect: Steven Holl, Li Hu
Partner in Charge: Li Hu
Senior Associate in Charge: Hideki Hirahara
Assistant Project Architect: Yenling Chen
Technical Advisors: Chris McVoy, Tim Bade
Project Designers: Garrick Ambrose, Yimei Chan, Rodolfo Dias, Gong Dong, Peter Englaender, Guido Guscianna, Young Jang, Edward Lalonde, JongSeo Lee, Richard Liu, James MacGillivray, Matthew Uselman
Project Team Members: Jason Anderson, Lei Bao, Christian Beerli, Johnna Brazier, Cosimo Caggiula, Kefei Cai, Guanlan Cao, Shih-I Chow, Sofie Holm Christensen, Frank-Olivier Cottier, Christiane Deptolla, Mike Fung, M. Emran Hossain, Gyoung-Nam Kwon, Eric Li, Tz-Li Lin, Clark Manning, Maki Matsubayashi, Giorgos Mitroulias, Daijiro Nakayama, Olaf Schmidt, Judith Tse, Li Wang, Ariane Wiegner, Lan Wu, Noah Yaffe, Liang Zhao
Associate Architects: Beijing Capital Engineering Architecture Design Co. LTD
Structural Engineer: Guy Nordenson and Associates
Mechanical Engineer: China Academy of Building Research
Sustainability Consultant: Transsolar
Electrical and HVAC Consultant: Cosentini Associates
- General Contractor: Beijing Construction Engineering Group
