The Baiziwan Social Housing project in downtown Beijing — the work of locally based, internationally admired firm MAD Architects — is wildly ambitious in terms of both its aesthetics and its scale. It comprises 4,000 units spread out across 12 white towers and six city blocks. The towers have a Y-shaped footprint to maximize sunlight and stepped roofs reminiscent of snow-capped mountains. The buildings are connected via a floating park with winding, elevated walkways. More than just a place to live, the Baiziwan project is a self-contained community, like a village in the sky.
Team Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano, Liu Huiying and Fu Changrui with He Xiaokang, Zheng Chengwen, Shang Li, Xu Chen, Li Guangchong, Wang Deyuan, Zheng Fang, Tong Shangren, Mujung Kang, Zhang Tingfu, Zhang Long, Zhang Kai, Kazushi Miyamoto, Yukan Yanagawa, Yu Zhipeng, Tomasz Czarnecki, Davide Signorato, Natalia Giacomino, Sear Nee, Yuan Yiwen, Steven Chaffer Park, Dookee Chung, Hiroki Fujino, Jiang Xuezhu, Chen Luman, Dina Khaki and Yang Xuebing (MAD); Earthasia Design Group; Beijing Ning Field Lighting Design; NDC China.
More than just a place to live, the Baiziwan project is a self-contained community, like a village in the sky.