May 19, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: Massive, Curvaceous Buildings Designed to Imitate a Mountain Forest

Illustration: MAD
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2. MAD-12003-Chaoyang Park Plaza-i-02-overview with city context
MAD designed Chaoyang Park Plaza in Beijing to reflect its natural surroundings.
Illustration: MAD
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6. MAD-12003-Chaoyang Park Plaza-i-05-rendering-view of the soho area
The 120,000 square meter plaza, which just broke ground, would sit on the southern edge of Chaoyang Park, one of Beijing’s largest swaths of green space.

Illustration: MAD
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8. MAD-12003-Chaoyang Park Plaza-i-08-towards the highrise
Two curvaceous, asymmetrical towers anchor the plaza.
Illustration: MAD
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14. MAD-12003-Chaoyang Park Plaza-i-14-renderin-lobby in the air
Ridges and valleys of shiny glass look as though they were the product of years of water erosion.

Illustration: MAD
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12. MAD-12003-Chaoyang Park Plaza-i-12-view into the garden (2)
These ridges have the added functionality of creating a natural ventilation system.
Illustration: MAD
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7. MAD-12003-Chaoyang Park Plaza-i-07-rendering-view from the office building
Across the plaza, four smooth, round office buildings are meant to look like river stones. Their shiny, glazed exteriors each have little individual quirks, in the same way you’d never find two stones that look exactly alike.

Illustration: MAD
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3. MAD-12003-Chaoyang Park Plaza-i-03-rendering-birdview of the site
MAD’s plans are almost like architectural feng shui, orienting the built environment in a way that creates harmony with nature.

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