Linked Towers are UNStudio’s proposal for the Tongzhou Central Business District in Beijing, China. A dynamic composition consisting of six towers, the design introduces an asymmetry in the plan, orientation, clustering, and façade treatment. The use of asymmetry in this effect creates a far-reaching urban effect while simultaneously relating to users on a more personal scale.
Courtesy of UNStudio
Taking up a site of 108,700 square meters, the collective towers house various functions and programs including an office tower, a hotel, service apartment, residential towers, retail podium, and a transportation hub. The towers at ground level are grouped into three pairs, each standing on a joint platform.
Courtesy of UNStudio
As defined by the bridging connections between them, the towers are also grouped as a couple, trio, and a single volume. The bridges help to cluster the towers, form interconnections and more importantly provide an artificial ground for users of the highest floors as well as housing semi-public functions.
Courtesy of UNStudio
The lower parts of the towers are marked by dense stacking while towards the tops they become smooth and reflected, defining a silhouette defined by the substantial differences between these two parts. The textural contrast is then mediated by the strong diagonals running the entire length of the tower. Also considered within the design is the application of active sustainable measure as well as passive design tools featured as winter gardens and green surfaces.
Project info:
Architects: UNStudio
Country: China, Tongzhou
Photographs: Courtesy of UNStudio
Kristin Hoover is an editor at Arch2O and a proud graduate of Virginia Tech. Since joining in July 2014, she has authored over 200 insightful articles covering everything from adaptive reuse and cultural centers to eco-buildings and urban infrastructure . With a passion for architectural storytelling, Kristin skillfully curates and crafts compelling narratives that bring design innovation to life. Her editorial work reflects a broad yet finely honed interest in how architecture intersects with society, technology, and the environment—making her a key voice shaping Arch2O’s explorations of contemporary built form.