The Spanish firm Selgascano has won the competition to build a cultural center in Beijing that will redefine the cityscape of Beijing’s Xicheng district. At ground level, a grand public exhibition space with transparent facades invites the community to enter. Floating above it is a raised plaza, covered with vegetation, that descends to street level. The crown of the complex is a curved yellow volume containing three stories, a shelter accommodating different events.

The whole ground floor is designed as transition zones, blurring the lines between public and private to encourage a natural flow of people and foster interaction, with social spaces like the café and the reading room. The mobile furniture and modular designs allow the flexibility necessary to accommodate a wide range of activities.