RSHP and CNADRI win competition to design Terminal 4 at Bao’an International Airport

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), in collaboration with China Northeast Architectural Design & Research Institute Co. Ltd (CNADRI), Shenzhen, has won a design competition organized by Shenzhen Airport Co. Ltd for Terminal 4 Bao’an International Airport in Shenzhen, China.

The scheme will deliver a new 400,000m2 terminal building with 60 new stands and connections to the midfield satellite, as well as connections to existing and new transportation infrastructure. The building aims to meet the demand of 31 million passengers per year (24 million international and 7 million domestic). AECOM and Railway 2 will also be involved in the project.

Andrew Tyley, partner, RSHP, said, “The design concept has at its heart a 10,000m2 central garden space, the size of 40 tennis courts. The garden acts as the front door to Shenzhen connecting and integrating ground and air travel.”

The terminal will be at the center of a new ‘airport city’ and will be a landmark portal through which thousands of people pass every day. The design provides Shenzhen with a state-of-the-art terminal with a particular focus on passenger experience, well-being, and sustainability.

Bingwen Ren, principal, CNADRI, commented, “It has been an honor to work with such a strong team, successfully sharing design ideas and decisions, resulting in the most satisfying teamwork experience with overseas practices. We would very much like to thank RSHP for all their trust and support. T4’s design, with so many original innovative ideas, will definitely be a new benchmark for all future terminals.”

The building aims to meet a number of key sustainable design objectives. The building’s compact form – providing an optimal surface area to volume ratio – maximizes the use of natural light while controlling solar gain. The project includes extensive vegetation, displacement ventilation, low water consumption including rainwater harvesting, and a significant proportion of off-site prefabrication. These strategies, as well as an efficient plan, equipment layout and the promotion of integrated public transportation connections, will all serve to minimize the building’s energy consumption in use.

According to RSHP, Terminal 4 will be an environment that celebrates human nature and human interaction both for arrivals and departures while maintaining a safe post-pandemic environment for all.

Ivan Harbour, senior partner, RSHP, said, “We have worked in China for three decades and are delighted to have won this prestigious competition to design a new terminal at Bao’an Airport. This is an airport that celebrates the hellos and goodbyes in a natural environment at its heart. These are the emotional moments that, despite the ever-increasing speed of our daily lives, remain important to us as individuals. It is a building where passengers’ well-being and pleasure are at the heart of the design.”