Concept design unveiled for Xili Transportation Hub in Shenzhen, China

Chapman Taylor has created a concept design for the new Xili Transportation Hub in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.

The high-speed railway interchange station will serve as one of the city’s three main transportation nodes, becoming a showcase ‘station city’ which will be an international exemplar for how to successfully integrate a transportation-related development with its surrounding urban environment.

The masterplan concept creates a five-storey, sustainable transport interchange complemented by a range of commercial and social amenities. The design is inspired by the shapes of the surrounding mountains and rivers, with the station’s roof peaks creating a striking ‘urban mountain’ landmark on the city skyline.

Each area of the new hub has its own functions, with all interconnected within a unified ecological landscape. Office, cultural, commercial and public service facilities are allocated to the podium area. Station halls for three inter-city lines and four underground lines are placed at the north side of the site, while all underground stations are connected via a tree-lined green route through the complex. Bus stations are located to the south-east and north-west to maximise public transport options and to help ensure a stress-free interchange experience.

A landscaped green corridor extends away from the railway station to blend seamlessly with the natural landscape of the Xili area and the wider Nanshan district, while well-considered landscaping softens what was a rigid urban road around the site, helping to create a more attractive and welcoming approach to the station. The scheme creates numerous green spaces and waterside paths in which passengers and other visitors will be able to unwind.

The area’s upgraded road network increases traffic capacity and maximises accessibility. The new road system creates optimal north-south and east-west connections, helping to solve longstanding road congestion problems in the area. In terms of pedestrian and cycle traffic, a system of beautifully landscaped paths and corridors connects the two urban cores around the site to the new hub, serving to ensure the area’s full integration with the wider community.

The infrastructural core created by Xili Transportation Hub will act as a catalyst for the development of the wider Nanshan science and innovation district, with urban growth connecting with the new station in an optimal way. The development will thus be a key element in the future economic and social success in Shenzhen.