ArchShowcase Susan Smith
Susan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ … More » Beijing’s Central Business District East Expansion by Skidmore Owings & MerrillJanuary 31st, 2011 by Susan Smith
The winner of an international design competition to double the size of the existing Beijing Central Business District (CBD), this master plan by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) accommodates 7-million square meters of gross building area in a 3-square kilometer redevelopment zone. Addressing the requirements of the competition brief, the expanded district remains consistent with the existing CBD functions, containing Class-A office space, quality housing, hotels, retail and entertainment. Special attention is given to integrating existing residential and commercial buildings into the expanded vision, while new cultural facilities add to the vibrancy and civic nature of the district .
The project enhances Beijing’s commitment to public open space by offering three new public parks, green boulevards, and a revitalized riverfront park. The comprehensive green network is designed to harvest and cleanse storm water to help alleviate shortages in the water-starved city. Additionally, the master plan aims to reduce vehicular traffic congestion by providing new modes of public transportation, including additional subway lines, streetcars and, most ambitiously, express rail service between a new CBD core and Beijing’s Capital Airport and South Railway Station.
The design is based on classic urban design principles–walkable streets, consistent street walls and active ground floor uses–and optimized with today’s technology to maximize sunlight, views, and thermal comfort. Placing this project at the cutting edge of smart technologies and serving as a model for contemporary urban redevelopment, the plan proposes a ‘‘plug and play’’ strategy for the provision of energy, water, conditioned air, communications and waste management infrastructure. Intelligent systems monitor and adjust to deliver maximum efficiencies, while centralized operations are made visible to the public– a true showcase in sustainable design. Designed as a flexible framework for development, the plan can be adjusted and phased to respond to the evolving Beijing market. The master plan team has continued working with local officials to refine the plan, with a special emphasis on minimizing carbon outputs in the expanded CBD. Construction of the initial phases will begin upon final approval, with full build-out anticipated by 2020.
The winner of an international design competition to double the size of the existing Beijing Central Business District (CBD), this master plan accommodates 7-million square meters of gross building area in a 3-square kilometer redevelopment zone. Addressing the requirements of the competition brief, the expanded district remains consistent with the existing CBD functions, containing Class-A office space, quality housing, hotels, retail and entertainment. Special attention is given to integrating existing residential and commercial buildings into the expanded vision, while new cultural facilities add to the vibrancy and civic nature of the district . |