Aedas models zhanjiang central station after a blossoming 'bauhinia' flower

connecting south china through zhanjiang

Aedas partners with shenzhen urban transport planning center to present the winning design for the zhanjiang central station hub. the international competition winner will introduce a sculptural central landmark for the coastal city. the project will converge five strategic rail links to connect major economic zones across south china.

the plot is adjacent to the city’s main arterial roads, with a total land area of over 400,000 square meters. the design strives to rationally integrate the diverse elements of offices, apartments, hotels, commerce, public services and more around the transportation hub and with the urban fabric, to create a station-city living room.

images courtesy of Aedas | @aedas_architects

the blooming design by aedas

Aedas (see more here) designs its zhanjiang central station hub with inspiration from the blossoming form of the city flower, the bauhinia. in which its curves define the continuous arc of the station hall, and reflects the prosperity of zhanjiang’s technology industry.   by the extraction of zhanjiang’s characteristic mangroves and tropical rainforest elements, the structure echoes the local ecosystem features, seamlessly integrated into the surrounding urban texture.

the roof of the station hall takes shape as a collection of elegant steel trusses, supported by a network of tree-like columns which together define the light-filled main hall. the layered greenery in the surrounding developments, connects the flower outline of the station hall, and becomes a natural continuation of the city’s green axis.

the holistic model of the central station hub

the design proposes a holistic model of transit-oriented development, where station-city integration and the people-centric principle is valued. Aedas chairman and global design principal, keith griffiths believes ‘high-speed rail as merely a transportation facility is a bygone perception. it should be integrated into the city and serve as a thread between disparate communities and remote regions of the city.’

with this in mind, a multitude of functions are positioned around the station hall, and by a consistent nature theme and an efficient slow-moving system, the design elevates relationship between architecture and community. 

the design maintains connection between the hub and the urban context with a network of walking paths

the masterplan sets down offices, retail, hotel apartments, public services, and connection facilities

the roof of the station hall takes shape as a collection of elegant steel trusses