massimiliano + doriana fuksas: shenzhen international airport under construction

'shenzhen bao'an international airport' by massimiliano + doriana fuksas, shenzhen, china
image © designboom


designboom recently visited the construction site for the terminal 3 extension at the 'shenzhen bao'an international airport'
by italian architects massimiliano and doriana fuksas. won by competition in 2008, the 400,000 square meter addition
will make the airport the fourth largest in china following beijing, shanghai and guangzhou.

the undulating and fluid exterior is generated with a triple layer structural system to support the clear spans of the interior's
80 meter width. a deep space frame connects to the outer honeycomb skin and inner box frame trusses which undulate independently of
external form, producing one supporting unit. extensive computer analysis was needed to generate the custom measurements for
each hexagonal metal panel and operable glass window on the 300,000 square meter surface area. the steel framework is attached
to a series of supercolumns, diverting heavy loads into the concrete substructure and foundations. 



designboom was given a tour through the construction site, led by tian fang, project manager and a few shenzhen-based members of the fuksas team
image © designboom


sectioned into three levels, the ground floor will accommodate passenger arrivals and the first floor will be reserved for departures.
the upper platform will facilitate public services for transient visitors. the project's expected completion date is in 2015.



exterior of the terminal
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terminating edge of the concourse
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workers installing the roof
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outward view from the terminal
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interior steel structural layer undulates independently of the exterior form creating a deeper section for additional space frame
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arched box frame trusses span the 80 meter wide concourse
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arched box frame trusses span the 80 meter wide concourse
image © designboom



third level of main concourse will contain public services
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upper level services floor
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upper level services floor
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horizontal outrigger secures to concrete substructure
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interior layer of steel structure undulates in a varied form creating a deeper structural cross section
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space frame structure secures the skin of the curtain wall
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outward view through the facade
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construction workers installing the facade
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structural system connects to a series of supercolumns in the future check-in area
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structural system connecting to supercolumn
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top of the supercolumn
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scaffolding to install skin
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aerial view of the terminal
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structural system at the roof
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installation of skin framework and panels on the roof
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view of wing extending from main concourse
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view of wing extending from main concourse
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installation of skylight
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extensive steel structure is secured to a series of supercolumns
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steel space frame holds outer skin into place
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uniquely sized glass panels
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the fuksas team leading the group through the building
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image courtesy studio fuksas



image courtesy studio fuksas



image courtesy studio fuksas



image courtesy studio fuksas



image courtesy studio fuksas



image courtesy studio fuksas



image courtesy studio fuksas



project info:

object: shenzhen bao'an international airport-expansion t3
project: massimiliano and doriana fuksas
structural + facade engineering: knippers helbig - advanced engineering, stuttgart - new york
date: 2008-2012 (first phase)
client: shenzhen airport (group) co., ltd
area: 400.000 mq in phase 3
type: on going project
interior design: fuksas design
general contractor: china state construction engineering corporation, beijing
architect of record: biad (beijing institute of architectural design), beijing
lighting consulting: speirs & major associates, edinburgh, london


---
the 2011 SZHK biennale
in shenzhen, china runs from december 8th through december 11th 2011.
the scale of certain projects is such that the architect becomes not only a designer of buildings but also city planner and landscape
architect and the shenzhen & hong kong bi-city biennale of urbanism \ architecture reflects this in its theme:
architecture creates cities - cities create architecture.
the SZHK biennale is the first to focus on urbanism as an ongoing theme to explore issues of the city as an active agent in contemporary culture.
the program included more than 30 exhibitions, symposiums, panel discussions and performances.
terence riley has been appointed chief curator (he is the first international curator for the event).
the hong kong edition will work to complement the shenzhen biennale in an integrative way and is curated by gene king and
anderson lee currently under preparation and due to open in february 2012.
designboom is the principal international media partner of the SZHK biennale.

'shenzhen builds'
designboom was given the opportunity to visit the construction site of the terminal extension, as part of the program 'shenzhen builds'.
the buildings being built in shenzhen today are setting international standards for most of the building types:
the 'shenzhen builds' exhibition, curated by terence riley, focuses on 5 new and upcoming buildings in the city by coop himmelb(l)au / wolf prix,
massimiliano and doriana fuksas, OMA / rem koolhaas, urbanus, and atelier FCJZ / yung ho chang.
on show are models, animations and drawings, including other developmental materials to demonstrate how these projects were conceived.
designboom will cover this exhibition in upcoming articles, please stay tuned for more to come.