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No. 8 Dongzhimen
No. 8 Dongzhimen
Beijing, China
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Other Projects by gad
No. 8 Dongzhimen
Beijing, China
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2023
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
01 Constraints Premises in Urban Renewal
Located along the Liangma River and the city moat near the East Second Ring Road of Beijing, the project is a long and narrow "peninsula" surrounded by waters on three sides with no high-rise obstructions. It is situated at a central location with privacy and was formerly the Oakwood Apartment which opened in 2010. With the development of the city, the value of the site has become increasingly prominent. In 2018, the owner decided to initiate a renovation to transform it into a "top-tier residence property in Beijing." The renovation required retaining the main structure of the building while addressing "constraints" issues such as fragmented site conditions, limited space, and outdated facades.
Current high-density urban renewal often faces challenges of "inefficient space and structural constraints." In this project, gad adopted a systematic design approach involving spatial restructuring, technical strategies, and formal optimization. By leveraging the characteristics of the site, we transformed "constraints" into "design drivers," and transformed the project from a "functional apartment" to a "top-tier residence."
02 Restructuring the Spatial Logic: From Fragmentation to Layered Courtyard System
The original site was divided into two isolated spaces (north and south) and lacks a buffer from the western urban arterial road. This led to mixed pedestrian and vehicle traffic, intersecting circulation paths, and safety hazards, and also exposed the neglect of "tranquility" and "sense of territory" in early residence design.
The design restructured the site through "vertical zoning" and a "cross axis," created "outer-inner" dual interfaces and defined four thematic courtyards with building volumes. In high-density environments, privacy is not just achieved through physical enclosures but through a nested sequence of courtyards that gradually transit from the noisy city to tranquil residence. This design approach not only mitigates external disturbances but also reinterprets the spiritual essence of the traditional "high-walled courtyard" in a contemporary manner, returning to the fundamental nature of habitation.
The southward relocation of the main entrance and the arrangement of the circular vehicle circulation system—with vehicle traffic routed along the perimeter and functional entrances (for drop-off, wellness and rehabilitation, homecoming, private banquet hall, and logistics services) positioned according to their respective orientations—maximized the separation of pedestrians and vehicles and effectively enhanced the sense of ritual and safety of the homecoming experience. This design strategy goes beyond mere functional optimization, pointing toward a spatial reconstruction based on bodily experience.
03 Technical Strategies Under Structural Constraints: Exposed Piping and Window System Reconstruction
Addressing the rigid constraints of the existing structure: The core tube space and floor height are both limited, with no possibility for expansion or extension, making the spatial conditions inadequate for the quality demands of high-end residences. Drawing inspiration from the "exposed piping" concept of the Pompidou Center—we placed the mechanical and electrical pipes externally and concealed them beneath the new architectural surface to avoid horizontal pipes occupying overhead space. This approach not only upgraded the hardware under constrained conditions but also effectively increased indoor clear height, ensuring spatial comfort for high-end residences.
More importantly, the window system was reconstructed. Without changing the window height, the design leverages the removability of non-load-bearing walls in the "Dom-Ino system" of the original building, demolishes all the mullion walls between windows, and creates an ultra-wide horizontally continuous viewing interface. This allows viewers' sightline to extend horizontally, incorporating the landscapes of Liangma River and Second Ring Road into a continuous visual scroll, offering residents a unique living experience that aligns with the characteristics of the site.
04 Multifaceted Formal Optimization and the "Beijing Impression" in Symbiosis with the City
The original Art Deco style of the building, due to disproportionate scales and redundant ornamentation, was disconnected from contemporary aesthetics. Rather than simply altering the facade form, the design centers on the "Beijing Impression," adopting an "asymmetrical, decentralized" strategy. By adding three-dimensional "gate frame" elements (between structure and surface), it deconstructs and reorganizes the existing building volume and establishes a visually interlocking relationship between the old and the new.
In terms of materials, the north and south facades employ copper-toned anodized aluminum panels and light gold Low-E glass, while the gable walls use lighter tones to soften the mass, creating a "heavy-light" contrast. This design approach not only echoes the tonal keynote of Beijing's urban skyline but also, through the reflectivity and transparency of materials and the asymmetry of the building volume, turns the building into a "variable urban interface" that blends subtly into the urban fabric.
The practice of No. 8 Dongzhimen proves that high-density urban renewal does not require radical creation but should seek breakthroughs within constraints. Through systematic reflection on space, technology, and form, the project transforms existing conditions into design highlights, reshaping the spatial and experiential paradigm of high-end living while preserving urban memory.
Project Name: No. 8 Dongzhimen
Location: Beijing
Address: No. 8 Dongzhimen Outer Diagonal Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Type: Residential Building
Time of Completion: December 2023
Land Area: 15,000㎡
Floor Area: 61,361㎡ (Above Ground: 52,000㎡)
Plot Ratio: 3.47
Client: Beijing Life Century Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Architectural Design: gad
Architectural Design Team: Yuhong Wang / Xuan Wu / Qingzhong Meng / Bochao Chen / Junru Tang / Mingyi Qian
Interior Design: André Fu Studio/Yabu Pushelberg/Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel/DIA Design International
Landscape Design: Zhejiang Antao Design Co., Ltd.
Lighting Design: Tino Kwan Lighting Consultants
Curtain Wall Design: Shanghai Eduth Facade Construction Consultants Co., Ltd.
Construction Drawing Design (Including MEP Design): China Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd.
Photography: Architectural Translator Yao Li / CreatAR Images / Simeng Liu
Located along the Liangma River and the city moat near the East Second Ring Road of Beijing, the project is a long and narrow "peninsula" surrounded by waters on three sides with no high-rise obstructions. It is situated at a central location with privacy and was formerly the Oakwood Apartment which opened in 2010. With the development of the city, the value of the site has become increasingly prominent. In 2018, the owner decided to initiate a renovation to transform it into a "top-tier residence property in Beijing." The renovation required retaining the main structure of the building while addressing "constraints" issues such as fragmented site conditions, limited space, and outdated facades.
Current high-density urban renewal often faces challenges of "inefficient space and structural constraints." In this project, gad adopted a systematic design approach involving spatial restructuring, technical strategies, and formal optimization. By leveraging the characteristics of the site, we transformed "constraints" into "design drivers," and transformed the project from a "functional apartment" to a "top-tier residence."
02 Restructuring the Spatial Logic: From Fragmentation to Layered Courtyard System
The original site was divided into two isolated spaces (north and south) and lacks a buffer from the western urban arterial road. This led to mixed pedestrian and vehicle traffic, intersecting circulation paths, and safety hazards, and also exposed the neglect of "tranquility" and "sense of territory" in early residence design.
The design restructured the site through "vertical zoning" and a "cross axis," created "outer-inner" dual interfaces and defined four thematic courtyards with building volumes. In high-density environments, privacy is not just achieved through physical enclosures but through a nested sequence of courtyards that gradually transit from the noisy city to tranquil residence. This design approach not only mitigates external disturbances but also reinterprets the spiritual essence of the traditional "high-walled courtyard" in a contemporary manner, returning to the fundamental nature of habitation.
The southward relocation of the main entrance and the arrangement of the circular vehicle circulation system—with vehicle traffic routed along the perimeter and functional entrances (for drop-off, wellness and rehabilitation, homecoming, private banquet hall, and logistics services) positioned according to their respective orientations—maximized the separation of pedestrians and vehicles and effectively enhanced the sense of ritual and safety of the homecoming experience. This design strategy goes beyond mere functional optimization, pointing toward a spatial reconstruction based on bodily experience.
03 Technical Strategies Under Structural Constraints: Exposed Piping and Window System Reconstruction
Addressing the rigid constraints of the existing structure: The core tube space and floor height are both limited, with no possibility for expansion or extension, making the spatial conditions inadequate for the quality demands of high-end residences. Drawing inspiration from the "exposed piping" concept of the Pompidou Center—we placed the mechanical and electrical pipes externally and concealed them beneath the new architectural surface to avoid horizontal pipes occupying overhead space. This approach not only upgraded the hardware under constrained conditions but also effectively increased indoor clear height, ensuring spatial comfort for high-end residences.
More importantly, the window system was reconstructed. Without changing the window height, the design leverages the removability of non-load-bearing walls in the "Dom-Ino system" of the original building, demolishes all the mullion walls between windows, and creates an ultra-wide horizontally continuous viewing interface. This allows viewers' sightline to extend horizontally, incorporating the landscapes of Liangma River and Second Ring Road into a continuous visual scroll, offering residents a unique living experience that aligns with the characteristics of the site.
04 Multifaceted Formal Optimization and the "Beijing Impression" in Symbiosis with the City
The original Art Deco style of the building, due to disproportionate scales and redundant ornamentation, was disconnected from contemporary aesthetics. Rather than simply altering the facade form, the design centers on the "Beijing Impression," adopting an "asymmetrical, decentralized" strategy. By adding three-dimensional "gate frame" elements (between structure and surface), it deconstructs and reorganizes the existing building volume and establishes a visually interlocking relationship between the old and the new.
In terms of materials, the north and south facades employ copper-toned anodized aluminum panels and light gold Low-E glass, while the gable walls use lighter tones to soften the mass, creating a "heavy-light" contrast. This design approach not only echoes the tonal keynote of Beijing's urban skyline but also, through the reflectivity and transparency of materials and the asymmetry of the building volume, turns the building into a "variable urban interface" that blends subtly into the urban fabric.
The practice of No. 8 Dongzhimen proves that high-density urban renewal does not require radical creation but should seek breakthroughs within constraints. Through systematic reflection on space, technology, and form, the project transforms existing conditions into design highlights, reshaping the spatial and experiential paradigm of high-end living while preserving urban memory.
Project Name: No. 8 Dongzhimen
Location: Beijing
Address: No. 8 Dongzhimen Outer Diagonal Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Type: Residential Building
Time of Completion: December 2023
Land Area: 15,000㎡
Floor Area: 61,361㎡ (Above Ground: 52,000㎡)
Plot Ratio: 3.47
Client: Beijing Life Century Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Architectural Design: gad
Architectural Design Team: Yuhong Wang / Xuan Wu / Qingzhong Meng / Bochao Chen / Junru Tang / Mingyi Qian
Interior Design: André Fu Studio/Yabu Pushelberg/Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel/DIA Design International
Landscape Design: Zhejiang Antao Design Co., Ltd.
Lighting Design: Tino Kwan Lighting Consultants
Curtain Wall Design: Shanghai Eduth Facade Construction Consultants Co., Ltd.
Construction Drawing Design (Including MEP Design): China Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd.
Photography: Architectural Translator Yao Li / CreatAR Images / Simeng Liu
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