Posted on 4/4/2016
Rotterdam-based studio MVRDV has unveiled designs for the Chongwenmen M-Cube, a pearlescent shopping center nearing completion in the heart of Beijing. Clad in bespoke ceramic tiles, the mall’s facade changes colors depending on the angle viewed, creating the appearance of a giant shimmering pearl. The pearlescent exterior gives the building a “sense of craft and human character” that distinguishes the mall from its staid neighbors.
Located in one of Beijing’s busiest areas, the 44,000-square-meter Chongwenmen M-Cube sits on prime real estate near popular tourist destinations including the historic hutongs, Temple of Heaven, and the Beijing Railway Station. To maximize the commercial value of the comparatively small plot, MVRDV first designed the building to its maximum size limits and then cut away...