Situated in a strategic position for the development of the city of Taiyuan, China, the design for the Southern Station West Plaza creates an important hub of services for the city’s population. Designed by AS. Architecture Studio, the project represents the first visual impact the city offers to visitors descending at the southern station, thus acquiring an important communicative and functional value. For this reason, the project constitutes a real landmark, standing out from the surrounding urban environment, enriching it and integrating within at the same time. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The architectural composition is divided into two groups of seven simple translucent blocks of different sizes hosting the main functions, juxtaposed in variable ratios around two internal courtyards, and connected by a system of variable shaped red volumes enclosing connective spaces and public functions. The two Parts of the complex (housing offices, a shopping mall, two hotels and an exhibition space) overlook the large urban park that faces the station on the main axis, and are connected on the underground level by a wide central shopping mall, which also serves as a link with the rail and subway network.
The facade system of the blocks consists of an internal glass curtain wall and an outer envelope formed from two layers of stainless steel cables interwoven and opened as a tent to make room for openings, forming a precious fabric that reacts to light, with many different effects of brightness and variable degrees of transparency. Linear texture is punctuated by cable fastening systems, which are themselves made of stainless steel, working as functional as well as aesthetic elements, such as the notes on the staff in a musical composition.
Due to the high reactivity to light of the chosen material, during the day the light conditions will naturally result in different degrees of brightness and transparency of the envelope, while at night the interaction between the different scenarios from the system of illumination of the façade and the light from inside the building will create even more effects and sophisticated changing. The Red volumes, in silk-screen printed glass, will be a chromatic counterpoint to the architectural composition, more saturated during the day, more transparent and bright at night.
Architects: AS. Architecture Studio Location: Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China Structural Engineer: Beijing Urban Engineering Design and Research Institute Co.,Ltd Local Design Institute: Beijing Urban Engineering Design and Research Institute Co.,Ltd Client: Taiyuan High-speed railway investment Co., Ltd. Construction Surface: 256,091sqm Maximum Height: 32.95m Design Timeline: 2011 – Design Competition; 2011 – Schematic and Development Design Phases; 2012 – Construction of First Phase; 2013 – Construction of Second Phase (estimate)
