China Central Television Headquarters

The China Central Television Headquarters is not a traditional tower, but a conjunction of six vertical and horizontal facades with 51 stories. Despite its irregular physical structure, the tower is designed to withhold heavy seismic activity. The building’s primary support is achieved through the irregular grid on its surface, a visible expression of the forces traveling through the tube structure; the smaller the diagonal pattern, the stronger the load and the greater the support. The braced tube structure also gives the building the required robustness to withstand the likely seismic activity in the area and therefore provides an extra level of safety. This place deserves to be one of the must-see architectural wonders of the modern world.

China Central Television Headquarters was opened in 2008 as an office building and headquarters for the China Media Group (CMG) and its highest point is 234m from the ground. Because of its iconic design, which earned it the nickname “big boxer shorts” or “big pants”, it is a reinvention of the generic skyscraper design in the form of a loop. The overall design of this building is just truly commendable. It was a government venture which was done as a redevelopment plan of the capital which was designed focusing on functional and innovative architecture. This is the largest project of OMA and was regarded as the first major building in China. This building consists of two high towers of the L shape, which are joined at the top and bottom to provide a loop-like structure. The glass panels are the features of this hybrid freestanding building that provide high-quality sun screening and create soft and shiny gray color for the subtle outer appearance of this wonderful masterpiece.

• Location: Beijing, China