The Bus Terminal of Duke Kunshan University Station: simple geometric forms to create a memorable impression for travelers
Atelier Archmixing/ ZHUANG Shen, REN Hao, TANG Yu, ZHU Jie
Transport
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Completed
This emptiness contrasts sharply with the small-scale design of the bus station. To create a memorable impression for travelers, the design employs simple geometric forms for the waiting hall, offices, and ancillary commercial spaces. It also features a cantilevered light steel structure for landscape balconies and sky-corridors, evoking the essence of traditional Jiangnan gardens. Additionally, the site design incorporates semi-outdoor spaces for resting and waiting for both travelers and staff.
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The site is on the outskirts of Kunshan, surrounded by undeveloped land to the south and urban greenery to the northwest. Its weak urban connection, due to large empty areas, poses a challenge: how can a small building stand out and engage with the vast surroundings? The design addresses this by focusing on the building's distinctive appearance and considerate functional arrangements. This bus station combines commercial and office spaces, offering more services for passengers and locals than traditional single-function stations. Meanwhile, it enhances recognizability through elements like building height, landscape balconies, and sky- corridors, further regulating the site relationship and achieving effective dialogue with the city.
1. The ground-floor "house within a house" style waiting hall and commercial boxes can open their facades according to seasonal changes, allowing for natural lighting and ventilation.
2. The water-permeable bricks on the ground of the station square, effectively remove water and avoid potential safety hazards for users.
3. All the balconies and sky-corridors are prefabricated, which are easy to construct and energy-efficient.
1. The new station combines commercial and office spaces, offering more services for passengers and locals than traditional single-function stations.
2. The station building has three floors. The height makes it stand out in the open surroundings and provides clear direction for nearby residents, students, and teachers. It also provides a great landscape view.
3. The building layout is spread out due to the bus turnaround flow. The design connects the scattered buildings with sky-corridors. These not only provide unique public viewing platforms but also enhance the visual unity of the station buildings.
4. The design uses lightweight steel structures to create deep overhanging viewing balconies. These balconies organize horizontal traffic circulation and provide scenic public spaces. Modern materials like metal panels, steel, and glass subtly reinterpret traditional Jiangnan Garden elements, such as flying eaves and corridors.
The design turned a basic bus station into a lively suburban transit hub. They combined bus stops, commercial retails, and offices into one smart design. Strong concrete parts handle daily work, while steel-and-glass sky-corridors—inspired by traditional Jiangnan Garden elements—make it feel light and modern. The height makes it stand out in the open surroundings and provides clear direction for nearby residents, passengers, and also offers a great landscape view.
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Building east elevation
ZHU Runzi
aerial view of the project
ZHU Runzi
corridor forms a canopy
ZHU Runzi
commercial retail
ZHU Runzi
distant view of the building
ZHU Runzi
viewing balcony from where visitors can enjoy entire landscape
ZHU Runzi
viewing balcony from where visitors can enjoy entire landscape
Kunshan
Jiangsu Province
Kunshan Public Transportation Group Co., Ltd.
Bus terminal station
07/2023
9982 sq. m
2,000,000.00 $
Atelier Archmixing/ ZHUANG Shen, REN Hao, TANG Yu, ZHU Jie
ZHUANG Shen, ZHU Jie, WANG Di, QIU Mei, WANG ZiXiao, LIU Qian
Shengxin Construction Group Co, Ltd.
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ZHU Runzi
Bio
Atelier Archmixing is a pioneering Chinese architectural studio established in Shanghai in 2009. With all partners domestically educated and have practiced in China almost three decades, their flexible design strategies come from deep understanding of Chinese contemporary urban and rural context. Through integrating practice with urban research, spatial experiments and theoretical reflection, Archmixing finds innovation from refreshing the program, reorganizing all resources and applying accurate forms and technologies. Their work and research have been exhibited in London, Venice, Boston, Paris, Shenzhen etc., and featured in AD, ARQ, A+U, AJ, T+A, etc. Awards include Best US Brick Building, Asian Architects Association Golden medal etc.
