Qing Dao is located on the east coast, on the Shandong Peninsula, and with some 9 million inhabitants constitutes one of the major Chinese seaports. The city was colonised by the Germans and then officially conceded to them by the Manchus in 1898 for a 99-year period. Taken over by the Japanese, it reverted to Chinese rule in 1922. Qing Dao is well known for having hosted the Olympic sailing competitions in 2008. The new station was commissioned in 2007 by the Ministry of Railways as part of the new high-speed line linking Jinan to Qingdao. It is located north of the city, 500 metres from the Yellow Sea coastline, on land reclaimed from the Jiaozhou Bay. Drawing on an extensive understanding of the surroundings, the design responds to the challenges raised by issues as varied as accessibility, intermodality, fluidity, security, services, image or urban development. It revisits the theme of marinas while alluding to the wingspan of large birds. It is precisely this symbolic evidence which gained unanimous support from the Chinese Railways.
The station comprises five different levels:
- The eight platforms and the rail tracks are located at ground level.
- Metro lines are situated 19 metres below ground level.
- The “intermodal hall” lies above the metro level and ensures connections with public and private transport means. It accommodates the high passenger flows arriving from the train platforms.
- The “departure hall” spans over the platforms and the rail tracks rising as high as 9 metres above them. Its 30,000 sqm house waiting areas and services while providing access to the platforms.
- The mezzanine level, which is located on the west side of the departure hall, completes the layout of the station and provides spaces offering unimpeded views of the Jiaozhou Bay.
The whole station, including the departure hall, is covered by a large, 352-metre long and 203-metre wide roof. The steel trusses have a maximum span of 140 metres and consist of two gables having varied angle gradations. The apparently complex curvilinear roof implements simple, modular and economical structural design.
The use of renewable energy sources, especially geothermal energy, combined with the climate characteristics of Qing Dao results in optimal energy production and contributes to naturally ventilating the hall in mid-seasons.
Client: PRC, Ministry of Railways, City of Qing Dao
Project management: AREP, Map3 and SSDI (Second Survey Design Institute)
Studies: 2007-2009
Delivery: 2014
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