China
of the Ministry of Railways’ system wide railway station design. Accommodating five levels, 11 island and two side platforms with 24 platform edges; interchange zones demanded an integral architectural solution to its complex requirements. The length of the new intercity trains helped determine platform size and operational requirements determined 550 metre long platforms.
Incorporating sustainable technologies The station was designed with reducing on-going operational costs in mind by incorporating sustainable technologies. A pilot project for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) in China, the large oval roof was designed to cover the entire length of the platforms, to protect the station from the elements—sand storms, cold harsh winters and extreme summer temperatures—and to moderate the indoor climate. The catenary roof allows for unobstructed concourses, large open spans resulting in light and airy spaces, with generous ambient light and openness to reduce over-crowding, improve wayfinding and generate a feeling of safety. Sustainable and environmental elements include natural cross-ventilation to reduce the cooling loads and air-binnacles to cool the Departure Level area and enhance passenger comfort, and inter alia to reduce operational running costs. With a construction site that was
immense in size (1.5km long by 0.5km wide), contractors had to excavate more than 20 metres deep to accommodate the three metro lines. At peak the construction took 10,000
workers on-site and 22 cranes to deliver the station within only two and a half years. The project was co-designed with the local design institute, with engineering provided by Arup. China’s Ministry of Rail’s deputy chief
engineer, Zheng Jian, said: 'Beijing South will be used as a benchmark because of its innovative architecture, energy conservation
of high speed rail does require a lot more thought than in Asia, and there is also the key issue of making sense and optimising the entire network, both existing and proposed. And our time-consuming issue of consultation is one little encountered in Asia, in explanation of the rapid delivery of these massive infrastructure schemes. With echoes of our own debate
features and its capacity to handle a peak passenger flow of one million people per day.'
Guangzhou South catchment area of 300 million Guangzhou South, in contrast to the urban setting of Beijing South, is set between two existing cities, but retains the same transport hub function with a catchment area of more than 300 million people. It is the largest new station in Asia – three
times the physical size of King’s Cross – with 28 elevated island platforms (high speed, inter city services and ‘express’) and three underground metro lines, arranged over six floors. An elevated uppermost concourse is
dedicated to departures – below this lie 28 elevated platforms. In turn, beneath these platforms at ground level, city and station meet, with arriving passengers able to make connections to other modes of transport, including the metro and underground railway systems, which take up the station's three subterranean levels.
Positive symbiosis between station and city Farrells were appointed in 2004 with the station complete by 2010!. In contrast to Britain, working in China provides more of a blank canvas than would ever be encountered here. In Britain, the integration
about HS2, initially there was some local questioning of the huge size and remote location of the station, but it became clear that the national government had the conviction to deliberately create a catalyst for future economic growth, rather than existing patronage dictating a smaller initial form. China’s new high speed service will
eventually terminate in Hong Kong within the Kowloon station precinct, originally master planned by Farrells in the 1990's, and now comprising a still expanding transport super hub, with several million square metres of commercial air rights development part funding the transport network. As another lesson for the UK, many rail concerns are beginning to understand the value of development in and around their stations, and as at Kowloon are using them as a continuing revenue stream to finance rail operations. Farrells is passionate about the positive
symbiosis between the station and the city. Every HS2 station will have a major socio- economic and city-making impact (see our video of our vision for Old Oak Common at
http://ow.ly/irJ51). It is vital for the future success of both the rail system and the communities they serve that the UK must seize the chance offered by the HS2 programme to unlock the wider potentials – whether transport network, social, spatial or economic - of this major infrastructure investment. Neil Bennett is lead partner at Farrells, the architect/ planning practice, for strategic infrastructure and urban design projects
www.terryfarrell.co.uk
April 2013 Page 145
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