New guidelines on urban planning will forbid the construction of “bizarre” and “odd-shaped” buildings that are devoid of character or cultural heritage. On the Block is a monthy series where we gather opinions on some of the unusual architecture that remains, from both an architectural and civilian viewpoint.

Phoenix International Media Center, Chaoyang Park

The Building

Designed by architect Shao Weiping of the state-owned Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD), Phoenix International Media Center is a ballooning torus (i.e. a doughnut-like tube) of latticed steel next to Chaoyang Park. The torus acts as a shell, housing two conventionally structured buildings inside. Alternatively described as a “DNA-like double helix” the center accommodates television production studios, offices and businesses. While initial media reports praised the building for its “openness” to the public, our visit to the center suggests otherwise.

The Residents’ View

Security guard Xu allows us inside the gate before telling us: “You can’t go inside,” and then, “the center is very beautiful.” We flag down Liu, who has just exited the building. “It’s a nice, clean environment,” he says. We find a group of visitors from Guangzhou who appear to be on an unofficial tour of Phoenix TV. Leader Wan asks: “Are you from Guangzhou too? It’s like Phoenix Satellite in Hong Kong, isn’t it?” (Note: physically, no.) Also barred from entering, the visitors excitedly take photos outside the building instead.

The Architect’s View

Architect at BMW China, Wang Shaonan, works near Phoenix Center. He confesses: “I don’t like this building, actually. I think the original idea was great. There was a lot of thought put into how to develop a better communicative space for people who live in Beijing – functional buildings connected in an open and interesting space. But after development and implementation, a security fence blocked the possibility of interaction between public and building.

“The eventual open space is not as exciting as the original design drawings, and it fails to relate well to its surrounding park environment,” Wang says, before concluding: “The biggest challenge facing architects is how to perfectly execute idea and design.”  

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