Located at the intersection of Zhongguancun South Street and Weigongcun Road, Beijing, KR Center reimagines the contemporary office building as an open and shared part of urban life. In a district often defined by efficiency and density, the project proposes a more human-centred workplace, one that engages the city and its people. It is home to leading technology companies, including Ant Group and other prominent domestic and international enterprises.
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With a GFA of approximately 190,000 square metres, the development consists of two 80-metre office towers set above a podium. Their balanced, symmetrical composition subtly references Beijing’s historic urban fabric.
Between the towers, a 2,500-square-metre, 26-metre-high atrium is conceived as a “Urban Hall.” Opened to the street through expansive glazing, the space welcomes office users, local residents, visitors and the surrounding research community, supporting everyday interaction.
Natural light is central to the spatial experience. A large skylight brings daylight deep into the interior, blurring the boundary between inside and outside and creating an atmosphere closer to an outdoor civic space.
Guided by the concept of a contemporary landscape garden, the architecture integrates subtle cultural references with a restrained, modern language.
A modular approach to planning and façade design reflects the grid logic of Beijing’s urban fabric. Glass and metal surfaces respond to changing light conditions, balancing clarity with warmth. Double-skin low‑e glazing, external shading and multi-scale landscaped spaces reduce energy demand, improve microclimate performance and strengthen connections between people and nature.
Rather than pursuing iconography, KR Center offers a unique proposition: an open, shared workplace embedded in the daily life of Zhongguancun, pointing toward a more inclusive future of work.
“KR center explores how the workplace can move beyond efficiency, becoming an open urban setting where light, people and daily life are brought into dialogue in Zhongguancun.”
Interior Design by Design Power House