HASSELL has developed a design for the Changchun Longjia International Airport terminal that uses elements drawn from the area’s natural landscape. The master plan proposed by HASSELL uses the form of the China Rose, native to Changchun area, in shaping a harmonious passenger experience, and creating an easy flow within the terminal’s spaces.
Image © HASSELL
The design merges the architecture and landscape as one entity: the exterior and interior blend together through selected vistas and multiple courtyards, transforming the airport into a landmark within the region. The China Rose form is visible from the air, allowing passengers arriving and departing by place to anticipate the form.
Image © HASSELL
Elevated pedestrian bridges lead passengers into the check-in hall from bus, taxi and private vehicle drop-off zones. These transparent bridges are surrounded by gardens and are entirely dedicated to pedestrians. It’s a serene and welcoming way for people to approach an airport; a special occasion for passengers.
Image © HASSELL
The road access also offers a unique experience, featuring a curved glass wall with a canopy on one side and a forest of local trees on the other, framed by the smooth shape of the airport cover. However passengers approach the terminal, they are visually engaged with elements of the China Rose form. The HASSELL design extends the external landscaped elements into the terminal’s interior. The entrance is defined by an internal garden that displays greenery throughout the year, even during the cold winter months.
Image © HASSELL
A drape-style roof surface at the airport’s entrance opens in a singular and inviting gesture. The entrance also serves as a kind of lamp, drawing light into the terminal’s interior and giving it a gentle, welcoming glow. Skylights are also concentrated in this area, augmented with integrated artificial lighting so they remain features at all times of the day. The terminal has been designed to be ‘mirrored’ so that it can double in size and allow for the rapid expansion predicted for this city.
Facts:
Client: Jilin Civil Aviation Airport Group Company
Architecture: HASSELL
Discipline: Architecture, Landscape Architecture
Expertise: Transport and Infrastructure
Scale: 120,000 m²
Year: 2014
Location: Jiutai City, China
Status: invited competition – unrealised
Collaboration: CNADRI / Arup
Images: HASSELL
*All images and information courtesy of HASSELL.
