Roberta Aguirre
Beijing Daxing International Airport, one of the world's largest airports, was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, a British architectural firm, in collaboration with French planners ADP Ingénierie (ADPI) and partners, and executed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). The airport, which opened in 2019, features a unique starfish-shaped terminal building with a five-pronged design, spanning 700,000 square meters. It is located in the southern part of Beijing's Daxing District, serving as a transportation hub for the region's growing population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Beijing Daxing International Airport |
| Location | 46 kilometres (29 mi) south of Tiananmen Square, 26 kilometres (16 mi) west of downtown Langfang, 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Xiong'an New Area, and 65 kilometres (40 mi) south of Beijing Capital International Airport |
| Size | 2,679 hectares (6,620 acres) |
| Cost | $11.5 billion |
| Construction began | 26 December 2014 |
| Completed | 30 June 2019 |
| Opened | 26 September 2019 |
| Capacity | 75 million passengers by 2025 |
| Runways | 4 civilian runways and 1 military runway |
| Terminal size | 700,000 square meters (7.5 million square feet) |
| Terminal design | Starfish-shaped with five concourses connecting to a main hall |
| Terminal features | Natural light, intuitive navigation, rainwater collection, and a water management system |
| Master plan prepared by | NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants) |
| Designed by | Zaha Hadid Architects, ADP Ingénierie (ADPI), Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD), and others |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The airport was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects
The Beijing Daxing International Airport, located in the southern part of Daxing District, was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The airport, which was inaugurated in 2019, is one of the world's largest airports, with a main building that spans 700,000 square meters (7.5 million square feet). It features a unique five-pronged terminal building, nicknamed the "starfish" due to its shape, with five concourses connecting to a central main hall. This design is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, which organises interconnected spaces around a central courtyard.
Zaha Hadid Architects collaborated with ADP Ingénierie (ADPI) and the Beijing New Airport Headquarters (BNAH) to create the airport's optimised design. The Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) and the China Airport Construction Company (CACC) were also involved in delivering the project. The terminal's design guides passengers seamlessly through departure, arrival, or transfer zones towards a grand courtyard at its centre, providing a multi-layered meeting space.
The compact, radial design of the terminal allows for efficient aircraft parking and reduces walking distances for passengers, eliminating the need for shuttles or trains. Additionally, Zaha Hadid Architects incorporated a rainwater collection and water management system that can store, permeate, and purify up to 2.7 million cubic meters of water, helping to prevent flooding and mitigate the summer "heat island" effect.
The airport's construction cost approximately $11.5 billion, and it is built to accommodate the region's growing population, with a capacity to handle 72-75 million passengers and 2 million tons of cargo and mail. It is designed with innovative features, including radio-frequency identification for baggage tracking, geothermal heat pumps, and facial recognition security access. The airport has been recognised for its design, winning Project of the Year in the Architizer's 2020 A+Awards.
Cincinnati's Airports: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
ADP Ingénierie (ADPI) and Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) also contributed
The Beijing Daxing International Airport is a $11.5 billion project that began in 2014. It is one of the world's largest airports, with a terminal the size of 97 soccer pitches, making it the largest single-building terminal globally. The airport is nicknamed the "starfish" due to its shape, with five concourses connecting to a central hall.
The airport was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, a British firm, in collaboration with ADP Ingénierie (ADPI), a French company, and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). The master plan for the airport was prepared by NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants). The close partnership between BIAD and ZHA, in their ongoing collaboration across multiple architectural projects in China, ensured that the terminal was delivered to the highest standards.
ADPI and ZHA's collaboration resulted in a new functional layout integrated with the terminal's fluid architectural language and spatial design. The terminal's design is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, with interconnected spaces centred around a courtyard. The compact, radial design maximises aircraft parking efficiency and minimises walking distances for passengers.
Declaring Your Laptop: Airport Security Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The airport cost $11.5 billion to construct
Beijing Daxing International Airport, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a breathtaking airport in the suburbs of Beijing, China. The airport is located on the border of Beijing and Hebei Province, about 46 kilometres (29 miles) from central Beijing. It covers an area of 2,679 hectares (6,620 acres) and has four civilian runways and one military runway. The airport is expected to handle up to 75 million passengers by 2025 and eventually aims to accommodate 100 million passengers per year.
The construction of Beijing Daxing International Airport cost $11.5 billion, with the airport replacing Beijing’s first airport, the 109-year-old Nanyuan Airport. Construction began in December 2014, with a peak of 40,000 workers on-site, and was completed in September 2019. The airport features a terminal that spans 700,000 square meters (7.5 million square feet), making it the largest single-building terminal in the world. The terminal has a unique design, with a central hub and five curved spokes, resembling a starfish or a phoenix.
The $11.5 billion price tag includes the cost of the Beijing-Xiong'an intercity railway, which connects the airport to Beijing West railway station. The airport also features a ground transportation hub, providing links to high-speed rail, metro, expressways, bus routes, and an inter-airport transportation system. The airport is designed to be a catalyst for economic development in the region, with direct connections to Beijing and the surrounding areas.
The airport incorporates advanced technology, including radio frequency identification for baggage tracking, geothermal heat pumps for temperature control, and facial recognition security access. The terminal building is also equipped with customer-service robots that provide travellers with flight updates and airport information. The airport's design considered the environmental impact, with Zaha Hadid Architects implementing a rainwater collection and water management system.
Beijing Daxing International Airport is a significant infrastructure project, boasting one of the world's largest airports and serving as a new transportation hub for the region. The airport's design, technology, and size showcase its ambition to cater to the growing aviation demands of Beijing and the surrounding areas.
Istanbul Airport: What's the Deal with WiFi?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It is nicknamed 'starfish' due to its shape
Beijing Daxing International Airport, located in the southern part of Daxing District of Beijing, is one of the world's largest airports. It is nicknamed "the starfish" due to its unique shape. The airport's terminal building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, features a central hub with five curved spokes, resembling a starfish's arms. This design, with its five concourses connecting to a main hall, echoes traditional Chinese architectural principles of organising interconnected spaces around a central courtyard.
The starfish shape of the airport's terminal not only provides a visually striking appearance but also serves functional purposes. The compact, radial design allows for efficient aircraft parking, minimising walking distances for passengers and eliminating the need for shuttles or trains within the terminal. This configuration ensures quick and convenient travel, with the farthest boarding gate accessible within an 8-minute walk.
The construction of Beijing Daxing International Airport began in December 2014, led by chief engineer Guo Yanchi. The airport officially opened on September 25, 2019, with a ceremony attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The total construction cost was estimated at CN¥450 billion (approximately US$63 billion), making it a multibillion-dollar project.
The airport is designed to handle a large volume of passengers and reduce traffic pressure on the city's existing international travel hub, Beijing Capital International Airport. By 2025, Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to accommodate 72 million to 75 million passengers annually, with plans to expand to eight runways by 2040 to serve up to 100 million passengers per year.
The airport's massive size and innovative design have garnered recognition, receiving awards such as "Project of the Year" in the Architizer's 2020 A+Awards. The integration of technology, including customer-service robots, facial recognition security, and a rainwater collection system, further showcases its forward-thinking approach to transportation infrastructure.
Clear Skies in Pittsburgh: Airport Weather Woes
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It is one of the world's largest airports
The Beijing Daxing International Airport is one of the world's largest airports. It is located on the border of Beijing and Langfang, Hebei, 46 kilometres (29 miles) south of Tiananmen Square. The airport covers an area of 2,679 hectares (6,620 acres) and has four civilian runways and one military runway.
The airport was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, a British architectural firm, in collaboration with French planners ADP Ingénierie (ADPI) and partners, and executed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD). The terminal building features a unique, starfish-shaped design with five concourses connecting to a main hall, echoing principles of traditional Chinese architecture. It spans 700,000 square meters (7.5 million square feet), making it the largest single-building terminal in the world.
The airport's construction began in 2014 and was completed in 2019, with an investment of $11.5 billion. It replaced Beijing's first airport, Nanyuan Airport, which was 109 years old at the time. The new airport was designed to handle a large volume of passengers, with a target of 72 million passengers, 2 million tons of cargo, and 620,000 aircraft movements in the long term. The compact, radial design of the terminal allows for efficient passenger movement, with the farthest boarding gate accessible within an 8-minute walk.
Beijing Daxing International Airport has received recognition for its design, winning the "Project of the Year" award in the Architizer's 2020 A+Awards. The airport sets a new standard in air transport services, offering a seamless and efficient passenger experience while incorporating sustainable features such as rainwater collection and advanced technology, including facial recognition security access.
American Airlines' PBI Airport: Everything You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The airport was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, ADP Ingénierie (ADPI), and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD).
The airport has been described as starfish-shaped, with five concourses connecting to a central hall. It covers an expanse of 2,679 hectares (6,620 acres) and has four civilian runways and one military runway.
The design of the airport echoes principles within traditional Chinese architecture that organise interconnected spaces around a central courtyard. The compact, radial design of the terminal allows a maximum number of aircraft to be parked directly, reducing walking time for passengers.
The airport features a rainwater collection and water management system, radio-frequency identification for baggage tracking, geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling, and facial recognition security access.
The construction of the airport itself cost around US$11.5 billion, with other peripheral projects costing an additional US$46.2 billion, bringing the total cost to US$63 billion.
