“Copper coin” some call it others a “caramel doughnut”. This is the Guangzhou Circle a building that sparks conversation. Have you ever seen a building quite like it? It stands before us a towering disc of architectural intrigue.
The Guangzhou Circle is more than just a building. It’s a landmark in Guangzhou Guangdong province China. It is home to the Guangdong Plastic Exchange the world’s largest trading center for raw plastic material. The Hongda Xingye Group also has its headquarters here.
Designed by Italian architect Joseph di Pasquale the Guangzhou Circle stands 138 meters tall. It features 33 stories. The building covers 85000 square meters. Its development cost roughly 1 billion RMB about 150 million US dollars.
Di Pasquale sought inspiration in oriental psychology. He looked to Chinese logographic symbols for guidance. The double disc of jade a bi-disk represents an ancient royal symbol. It ruled this area about 2000 years ago. The building’s reflection in the Pearl River creates this image again. This symbol also resembles the number 8 and the infinity symbol. These have strong positive meanings in Chinese culture.
The Guangzhou Circle also references the Italian Renaissance concept of “squaring the circle”. The two circular facades support suspended stories. These “square” the circumference to create usable interior space.
Located on the Pearl River the Guangzhou Circle’s design has sparked debate. Some compare it to a copper coin or a caramel doughnut. Others appreciate its unique form.
The central core is open with no glass. This distinguishes it from other circular buildings. It boasts the world’s tallest circular building structure. Its empty core measures almost 59 meters in diameter.
CNN listed the Guangzhou Circle as one of the 10 most interesting buildings worldwide in 2014. Some critics consider it among the most bizarre buildings in China.
The Guangzhou municipal government even held a contest to name it. The winning entry “Guangzhou Yuan Building” simply means “round”. Some residents felt it lacked creativity for the 100000 yuan prize.
Despite mixed initial reactions the Guangzhou Circle has become an iconic symbol of Guangzhou. Its image appears on posters and in advertising campaigns. It represents a blend of cultural symbolism and architectural innovation. The Guangzhou Circle invites us to consider the interplay of symbolism design and cultural perception.