A shortlisted proposal for a major new Exhibition and Convention Centre, next to the new Daxing International Airport in the south of Beijing. The scheme proposes a simple and flexible arrangement of up to 32 exhibition halls over two stages. Each hall providing over 12,000m2 of column-free exhibition space, for a total of up to 400,000m2. A central entry and arrival hall provides direct access from a new adjacent transit hub, and contains major retail, food and beverage and convention meeting spaces. Exhibition halls wings branch out from this central spine, spreading apart like the wings of an insect, to create space for outdoor exhibitions, social and green spaces.
The roof is shaped for north facing skylights to provide natural daylight into the halls. The proximity of the project to the new international airport, projected to be one of the busiest in the world, creates a need for the roof to provide an instantly recognisable image. Inspired by the wings of a dragonfly, our scheme creates a feeling of lightness, important for an incredibly massive project, and fulfills this need for a striking and unique image from the air.