CCTV Headquarters, Beijing China – OMA
Designed by OMA as a radical rethinking of the skyscraper, the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing abandons the conventional pursuit of vertical dominance in favor of a continuous, looped form. At 473,000 m², it is OMA’s largest project and was their first major commission in China.
The structure is composed of two leaning towers that rise from a shared base and converge in a striking 75-meter cantilever. This daring configuration consolidates the entire process of television production—studios, offices, broadcasting, and post-production—into a single, interconnected volume. Instead of height, the building emphasizes connectivity, transforming the skyscraper into a dynamic and collaborative space.
The result is a civic icon that redefines Beijing’s skyline. Iwan Baan documented the building’s construction over many years and captured it again after completion, revealing its evolution and its place in the urban fabric.
