The scheme, located in China’s Nanjing, is an evolution in design of transport-oriented developments to create a high-quality retail environment that fully integrates with the rail network.
The scheme envisions the integration of retail while preserving the 2.6km airport runway which has been kept in its original form as a historic feature. The runway will be reimagined as a multifunctional cultural boulevard that doubles as a green pedestrian axis. The development involves three interconnecting buildings, incorporating a shopping mall, retail, cultural and office spaces along with a boutique hotel. Adjacent to the Nanjing Cultural Palace, this mixed-use project will run parallel to the remaining runway.
With two underground railway stations embedded into the site, connectivity is one of the key design drivers. The design includes a central glass box corridor with key entrances positioned directly on top of one of the railway tracks, providing a feature passageway for commuters to navigate through different levels of the scheme. All three buildings are connected via an underground retail spine and street-level pedestrian walkways: the pedestrian bridges provide further connectivity between the two shopping malls.
A series of sunken plazas extend out to the street level, punctuating the ground level and bringing natural light into the subterranean areas. The basement retail area is an impressive double height space of up to 9m – a unique underground space with natural light that would normally only be achieved at ground level.
