9 Boxes-Taihe Complex

Beijing, China

Architects: FAKE Design

Year: 2004

After buying the entire development properties from the previous investor, the new developer was eager to transform these 9 houses, which have very distinguish styles, into art gallery and office space with minimum cost and time scale. We proposed the solution of wrapping these 9 buildings individually with light steel structure and a galvanized steel skin. The finished work gives these ‘steel houses’ a harmonic contrast with the gray brick structures of the other houses in the estate.

Location: Beijing, China

Date: (beginning of construction-completion) 2004.8-2004.9

Client: TaiHe Real Estates co..Ltd

Architect: Ai Weiwei

Construction Engineer: Fake Design

Area: 2751m2

Materials: galvanized steel sheet