Daxing International Airport in Beijing designed by Zaha Hadid Architects opens its doors

The Daxing International Airport is Beijing’s new international airport designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and recently inaugurated. The international airport was built in the Daxing district, 46 km south of the city centre. The new infrastructure, fully integrated into the local transport system and into the high-speed rail networks, is expected to reduce congestion at the existing Beijing international airport. The design of this futuristic airport involved several architecture firms led by the Beijing New Airport Headquarters (BNAH). Together with the previously mentioned Zaha Hadid Architects firm, the specialised ADP Ingénierie (ADPI) studio collaborated in the design phase working on the functional and technical specifications of the terminal. Two local firms, BIAD (Beijing Institute of Architecture and Design) and CACC (China Airport Construction Company) looked after the technical aspects of the project, working on the implementation of the aeronautical functions of the terminal, as well as of the apron, runways and the air traffic systems.

The photo reportage shot by famous architecture photographers Hufton + Crow highlights the fluidity of the spaces of the new functional layout designed by the architects. A project that has achieved and meets exceptionally high quality standards, result made possible by the excellent synergy between the international firms and the two local studios involved in the design and construction of the new airport.
The role played by Zaha Hadid Architects was to realise the integrated design of the entire terminal, in order to have a common architecture language between exteriors, interiors, technical workstations and retail spaces. The studio also looked after the distribution layout and the planning of commercial spaces.

To visitors, the new international airport appears like a futuristic place. However, while working on the project, the architects drew inspiration from the principles of China’s traditional architecture, such as designing interconnected spaces around a central courtyard. In the project designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, passengers are guided along routes leading them to a large central courtyard, directly from the different areas of the terminal, including the departure, arrival or transfer areas. This is the heart of the terminal, a space for meeting and waiting, organised over several levels. This compact and radial distribution proved to be very effective because the many services and amenities designed for passengers are located in the central courtyard, minimising the distances between the check-in area and the gates, as well as the connections between gates for passenger transfer.
Passengers are guided through the airport by six flowing forms, which also play a crucial structural support role for the vaulted roof of the terminal, while linear skylights allow natural light to permeate the spaces, directing passengers to and from the departure gates.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Images courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects, photo by Hufton + Crow

Client: Beijing New Airport Construction Headquarters
Architects/Joint Design Team: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and ADP Ingeniérie (ADPI)
Design (ZHA): Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Project Directors (ZHA): Cristiano Ceccato, Charles Walker, Mouzhan Majidi
Project Design Director (ZHA): Paulo Flores
Project Architect (ZHA): Lydia Kim
Project Coordination (ZHA): Eugene Leung, Shao-Wei Huang
Project Team (ZHA): Uli Blum, Antonio Monserrat, Alberto Moletto, Sophie Davison, Carolina Lopez-Blanco, Shaun Farrell, Junyi Wang, Ermis Chalvatzis, Rafael Contreras, Michael Grau, Fernando Poucell, Gerry Cruz, Filipa Gomez, Kyla Farrell, Natassa Lianou, Teoman Ayas, Peter Logan, Yun Zhang, Karoly Markos, Irene Guerra
Beijing Team (ZHA): Satoshi Ohashi, Rita Lee, Yang Jingwen, Lillie Liu, Juan Liu

Local Design Institutes: BIAD (Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design) + CACC (China Airport Construction Company)
Consortium Team (Competition Stage): Pascall + Watson, BuroHappold Engineering, Mott Macdonald, EC Harris Consultants, McKinsey & Company, Dunnett Craven, Triagonal, Logplan, Sensing Places, SPADA
Consultants Security System + Baggage Systems Design: China IPPR International Engineering Co. Ltd.
Information and Weak Power Systems Design: China Electronics Engineering Design Institute + Civil Aviation Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.
High Speed Rail Design: The Third Rail Survey and Design Institute Group Corporation Ltd. Subway Design: Beijing City Construction Design Research General Institute Co. Ltd. Viaduct/Bridge Design: Beijing General Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co. Ltd.
Fire Performance Design: ARUP
Public Art: Central Academy of Fine Arts
Green Technology: Beijing TsingHua TongHeng Urban Planning and Design Institute BIM Design: DTree Ltd.
Architecture Façade: XinShan Curtainwall Ltd. + Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (Group) Co. Ltd. Complex Structure Division Metro System: Lea+Elliott
Lighting: Gala Lighting Design Studio
Identification/Signage System: East Sign Design & Engineering Co. Ltd. (East)
Landscape: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (Group) Co. Ltd (BIAD) Landscape Design Division

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