Tianjin Binhai International Airport (Kohn Pederson associates)

August 1, 2007

“A Kite for the Olympics,”

The ambitious expansion plan at Tianjin Binhai International Airport gave the design team—Dutch airport planner NACO and architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox International (KPF)—a particular challenge: how to design a series of major terminal buildings and associated infrastructure over decades without the airport looking like a series of temporary structures in the meantime

The design competition for the new international airport for Tianjin, the fourth largest city in China, was won by airport planners NACO, Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V. teamed with architects Kohn Pedersen Fox International (KPF) in an international competition. Phase One of the new Tianjin Binhai International Airport - due for completion for the 2008 Olympic games to be held in nearby Beijing - will cater to six million passengers per year. When all phases of the new terminal master plan are complete, the capacity will exceed 40 million passengers per year with a total of 22 contact gates.

Lee Polisano is an architect, the President of Kohn Pedersen Fox and the founding Partner of Kohn Pedersen Fox International, London. Under his direction,

KPF’s work addresses a number of primary concerns, namely a response to context, an awareness of the civic obligation of buildings, respect for the environment and importance of innovation and technology.

Concept

The terminal design makes a strong reference to the kite making tradition of Tianjin. The bright colours of the kite-like roof of the landside façade and access road offer a refreshing counterpoint to the often monochromatic palate of today’s airports.

The colour of the sails can be changed at the touch of a button. This allows the roof to celebrate the change of seasons, festivals, special events or national holidays.

Design

The design brief outlined a multiphase expansion program: the initial phase is to increase the facility to serve six million passengers annually, due for completion in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. Subsequent phases will expand the facility to accommodate 40 million annual passengers over the following decades.

The client wanted each phase of terminal development to be a complete ensemble, capable of standing on its own as part of an international airport, rather than just a series of interdependent interim terminal facilities.

To this end, a three-terminal strategy was developed whereby each terminal was incrementally expandable, and, when combined, the three-terminal complex would comprise a central international facility straddled by two domestic terminals. The shape of each terminal module—triangular in form with lower wings on either side— would allow for an incremental expansion of the parts that would ultimately knit them together to create a cohesive whole.

KPF sought to integrate elements of local culture into terminal buildings and looked to the sky for inspiration. Tianjin is the birthplace of the kite, considered one of the first flying machines, and with the terminal, the designers looked to achieve the same lightness of structure as a kite.

The large, lightweight and translucent terminal roof soars above the departure level, from which the boarding gates flow out to resemble the kite’s long tails. Coloured sails within the structure—which can be changed to celebrate different seasons, festivals or special events— enliven the interior space and highlight the terminal’s entrance. Also, the whole aviation area replicates the shape of a Chinese fan, providing a recognisable cultural form and creating an efficient shape for transport and circulation that is modular and expandable. The radial nature of the design creates an efficient layout for parking and access, while the fluted mounds conceal the short-term parking decks.

The airport is accessed from a grand park to the upper departures level. The check-in area is housed under the brightly coloured, lightweight, translucent roof; access to the gates occurs with no changes in floor level. In line with the objective of flexibility, the piers expand and contract in response to the required functions: narrower sections house circulation spaces while wider sections accommodate waiting rooms.

Keeping circulation straightforward, arriving passengers move through the building on a lower level, enjoying airside views as they approach the double-heightvolume arrivals area below the check-in area. From here they can proceed directly to the kerbside pick-up.

Location: Beijing Capital International Airport is situated in the Shunyi District of the city, about 25 km (about 15.5 miles) northeast of Tiananmen Square, and is China’s busiest and most important international airport.

Brief Intro: Beijing Capital International Airport was opened to public in 1958. With the development of civil aviation and the subsequent increase in passenger traffic, the airport has twice been extended, firstly in 1980 and then in 1999. Nowadays it has a 4E standard flight area, at present there are two terminals and a third is under construction. The high standard of services and facilities has attracted 66 airlines to operate here. Currently, the airport has flight connections to some 88 domestic and 69 foreign cities.

Facilities:

No. 1 Terminal Building

A Passengers’ Changing Room is located on the first floor of the Terminal Building, on the west of the Baggage Reclaim Hall.

Business Center: This offers facsimile facilities, photo-copying, printing, mobile phone re-charging, on-line connection via PC as well as for personal laptop computers. Situated on the second floor at the eastern end of the hall, the opening hours are from 08.30 to 20:00. (Note: we suggest you make prior inquiries should you require document binding or wish to purchase an IC phone card. As these are not available at all centers)

Rest Room:

VIP ‘red carpet’ Rest Room: is located in the public region of the hall.

Rest Room for Mother and Infant: situated in the northern part of No. 25 Boarding Gate of the Domestic Limited Area.

Time Rest Room: Use of this facility is be charged by time. You can dial the phone number through 010 - 64598932 (domestic) or 010 - 64598943 (international) to communicate with the staff directly.

In addition, there is the Gotone Club of China Mobile and the Honorable Guest Room of China Unicom of Airport that offer rest rooms for their customers in the airport.

Smoking Room: there are two smoking rooms in the lounge building. They are situated respectively in the sides of the Boarding Gate of east and the west lounge areas for later flights.

Public Phone: the airport offers common IC phone and phone card sales on the first floor of the arrival hall and the second floor of the departures hall and also near the Boarding Gate in the lounge hall.

Water Fountain: water dispensers are placed at various locations in the lounge providing drinking water: These are both pure water with disposable paper cups and automatic machines dispensing cold and hot water.

Clinic: situated on the first floor at the western end of the hall, it provides a 24-hour service for visiting patients in the terminal building, first aid, receiving and sending by ambulance, transmitting patients, etc. It offers for sale all kinds of first-aid and common use medicines from 07:00 to 21:00 daily. Passengers can dial 010 - 64591919 for first aid.

No. 2 Terminal Building

Passengers’ Changing Room: situated in the Baggage reclaim Hall. One is located to the east of No. 14 carousel of Domestic Baggage Reclaim area and the other is near the No. 4 carousel of International Baggage Reclaim area.

Business Centers: These are situated opposite Gate 14 on the second floor of the Departure Hall, beside Gate 34 of the Domestic Departure Lounge and between the Boarding Gates 10 and 11 in the International Departure Lounge. These provide facilities during the same hours as described above in relation to the Terminal One building. (Note: we suggest you make prior inquiries should you require document binding or wish to purchase an IC phone card. As these are not available at all centers)

Rest Room: Rest rooms as described above for Terminal One are available in this building and are clearly signed.

Smoking Room: Six smoking rooms are provided in this lounge building. These can be found adjacent to Gate 7 on the first floor and International Boarding Gates 14, 28 and 36.

Public Phone: this lounge provides two kinds of public phones which are the common IC phone and web phone of ‘mianmaintong’.

Water Fountain: There are three kinds of water supply provided in this lounge: forty sets of common pure water dispensers with disposable paper cups, twelve automatic watering machines offer cold, hot and chilled water, eight sets of automatic electronic heater, which will ensure your healthy drinking.

Clinic: located to the opposite of the No. 12 of the Leaving Hall at the second floor, it provides for visiting patients in the terminal building, first aid, receiving and sending by ambulance and transmitting patients, etc. from daily 06:30 to 22:00. Also all kinds of first-aid medicines and common use medicines are offered for sale.

PROJECT DATA

Project Name

Tianjin Binhai International Airport

Location

Tianjin, China

Status

Under Construction

Expected Completion

2007

Gross Floor Area

Phase I: 60,000 m² /

All phases: 180,000 m²