Why is the CCTV Headquarters building in Beijing architecturally unusual?

The China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters in Beijing is considered architecturally unusual due to its unconventional, non-rectilinear form and its departure from traditional skyscraper design. Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the building is frequently described as "twisted and hollow," with a structural system consisting of an irregular network of steel cross-bracing that appears etched into its skin, becoming denser at critical stress points.12

Several factors contribute to its unique and polarizing status:

• Form and Scale: Standing 755 feet (230 meters) tall, the building is raised on a concrete plinth and avoids street-level engagement. Its 50-story legs and bridge-like top create perspective distortions that skew views, and its interior volumes are organized by hierarchy rather than a rational human scale.12
• Structural Innovation: Unlike conventional towers, the building’s structural integrity relies on the visible, irregular steel bracing, which serves as both a functional support system and a defining aesthetic feature.12
• Public Perception: The building has polarized opinion, with critics using monikers ranging from "the underpants building" to comparisons of a "naked woman on her hands and knees." Some observers suggest the structure may serve as a covert political statement regarding state media monopolies or as an example of "post-civil" architecture.1