A design consortium led by Grimshaw,has been selected as the winner of an international competition for Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub.

The winning proposal will improve the journeys of thousands of daily commuters– providing effortless transfers between high speed rail and other public transport modes. The hub will also provide connections and terminal facilities forpassengers travelling to and from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, making it one of the most integrated transport interchanges in the world.

The transport interchange will be a catalyst for the transformation of the whole east terminal area into a vibrant, people oriented new commercial and cultural district for Shenzhen. The master plan has been designed to promote active travel through provision of intuitive routes, active frontages and enriching landscape features.00

The design takes its inspiration from the Mangrove, a tree that has special significance for the city of Shenzhen and is one of the planet’s most effective carbon absorbers. The team developed a strong set of design principles enabling a harmonious and unique development delivering operational, experiential and ecological excellence.

The natural form of the tree’s diverse root eco-system, which thrives where waterways converge, inspired the journey passengers will take, both above and below ground, landside and airside, while its bio-diversity will be in harmony with the hub’s exciting mix of uses.

We are often inspired by the transfer of geometries and forms from nature into architecture. We have applied this approach to the master plan and interchange design at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport which is directly inspired by the mangrove tree. Not only does this have symbolic value as an important tree to Shenzhen, but it has led us to a solution for the building that is highly efficient.

Jolyon Brewis