Introduction
The design and creation of architecture include several vital requirements, for example, the functionality of the planned building, comfortability, harmony with the environment, heating, cooling, air conditioning systems, technical feasibility, and energy savings. Significantly, Beijing Daxing International Airport in China was chosen for analysis. The Airport is remarkable because it is the creation of the famous late architect Zaha Hadid, which carries all the characteristics of her inimitable style. The study focuses on discussing Beijing Daxing International Airport’s structure, lighting, rainwater, heating, and cooling systems. In addition, the coordination between these systems and the role of the interior designer in construction are indicated.
Background
The role of the interior designer is fundamental in the architecture world. First of all, the designer should combine engineering and construction knowledge to create the internal environment. According to Webber (2017, p. 24), the design process of a building includes five stages such as “programming, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and contract administration.” Above all, the interior designer should have excellent communication skills to enable efficient collaboration between engineers, architects, and the client.
Consequently, the designer has complex responsibilities that involve managing the functional and aesthetic sides of the construction. Abyzov and Kysil (2020) argue that modern interior design has undergone significant changes due to technical progress and growing environmental requirements. Hence, interior design should be implemented in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, innovative technologies, and national traditions. Creating a modern interior design is a complex task that considers many fundamental external and internal aspects that impact the construction’s spatial, functional, and aesthetic sides (Abyzov and Kysil, 2020). As follows, external factors are associated with the pre-design evaluation, such as climatic, environmental, and technological. For instance, interior designers determine the climatic and geological conditions of the planned building and their impact on the environment.
Hence, the internal factors relate to the cultural and psycho-emotional analysis. In particular, according to Abyzov and Kysil (2020, p. 84), psycho-emotional aspects relate to “the psychological and emotional perception of a harmonious environment, scale, proportions, color climate, lighting, landscaping” that influence the humans’ health and mental perception of the design. Significantly, Beijing Daxing International Airport stands out among present-day architectural projects in China.
Moreover, Beijing Daxing International Airport meets particular systematic and structural principles and represents contemporary, human-centered, accessible, and technologically advanced interior design. Thus, the Airport was selected for the study because the construction is complex, unique, attractive, and modern. The Airport is built in the South of the Daxing district next to the Yongding River and is situated about 50 km from the center of Beijing (Peng et al., 2020). Doyle (2019) states that the airport construction took five years and cost 120 billion yuan. According to Ravenscroft (2019), the Airport was completed in 2019 and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The terminal area of 700,000 square meters was designed by Zaha Hadid, the founder of the Zaha Hadid Architects, who died in 2016, and current studio director Patrick Schumacher, together with ADPI airport specialist (Ravenscroft, 2019). Doyle (2019) informs that Beijing Daxing International Airport has one terminal, seventy-nine gates, four civilian runways, and one military runway. Hence, the Airport became the biggest in the world; it can fit a hundred football fields.
Beijing Daxing International Airport is huge and has a complex engineering structure. Mizuno and Tokuda (2019) point out that the terminal has five stories above the ground and two below. For instance, the restaurants are located on the fifth floor, and “the third and the second-floor server as domestic departure and arrival gates respectively” (Mizuno and Tokunda, 2019, p. 768). Consequently, the departure gate for international flights is situated on the fourth floor, while the ground floor has the international arrival gates. Mizuno and Tokuda (2019) state that the Airport’s first basement level is connected to the subway, namely Beijing Daxing International Airport Express and the high-speed railway, Beijing-Xiong’an Intercity Railway. Cristiano Ceccato, the ZHA London associate, said, “The Beijing Daxing International Airport is quite unique. It combines best practices of airport design and international standards, together with very advanced knowledge in China about designing and building airports” (Doyle, 2019, p. 91). Therefore, the airport’s building design is unique and innovative and deserves to be studied further.
The starfish design of the Airport increases the number of aircraft passing through it and shortens the distance for travelers. Moreover, Zaha Hadid Architects claims that the Airport’s compact radial design provides passenger comfort and allows the maximum number of aircraft to be positioned directly at the terminal with a minimum distance from the center of the building (Ravenscroft, 2019). Thus, passengers can walk to their gates within eight minutes, enjoying the Airport’s light-filled interior and many other amenities (Zhang, 2021). Furthermore, Daxing Airport is an excellent piece of architecture as the building was built considering the environmental issues. For instance, Zhang (2021) argues that airport design elements, such as sun protection and natural light filtering, not only brighten the space but also reduce the overall energy consumption and carbon emissions of the building by about 50 percent. Specifically, Beijing Daxing International Airport reduces its carbon footprint and also collects and filters rainwater to prevent flooding (Zhang, 2021). Notably, the construction is solar-powered and has comprehensive and innovative heating and water management systems.
Zaha Hadid and Beijing Daxing International Airport
The idea for Beijing Daxing International Airport belongs to Zaha Hadid, the legendary Iraqi-British architect and designer. It is important to note that Zaha Hadid was born in 1950 and passed away in 2016 (Sebastian, 2018). Zaha studied Architecture at the Architectural Association (AA) School in London under Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zenghelis. Russian Constructivism influenced her unique style, a utilitarian philosophy where beauty is more crucial than functionality (Sebastian, 2018). In addition, Hadid was inspired by “Abstract and Fragmented forms or Fluid and Free forms” (Sebastian, 2018, p. 496). She founded Zaha Hadid Architects in 1979 and was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is equivalent to the Nobel Prize in architecture (Zaha Hadid Architects). Significantly, Zaha Hadid made her architectural style famous all over the world.
Indeed, this talented woman did not try to fit construction into the space; she created this space herself and always went beyond the generally accepted rules. Accordingly, Hadid is called the 21st-century modernist woman because of her innovative views on architecture and ideas of modernism. Her designs embody design freedom, where the appearance of the building is prioritized, followed by structure, lighting, heating, drainage systems, and many other functional elements of buildings (Sebastian, 2018). Thus, Zaha Hadid perceived building design as an art compatible with human emotional experiences and feelings. Her installations have become famous for their unusual design, aesthetics, and denial of architectural rules and conditions.
Structure System
Daxing International Airport is constructed in the shape of a starfish. The complex is a large-scale building with a central core, from which six arms diverge in different directions. The design concept is based on traditional Chinese architecture, where all other premises are located around the central courtyard. The structure of the Airport is presented in the form of six curved branches, which are connected in the center by a common node. Thanks to the shape of the six-pointed star, passengers can quickly reach the desired zone, namely departure, transfer, and arrival.
Complex technological solutions were used in the construction of the Airport. Damping elements built into the steel base of the Airport create a layer to absorb and compensate for vibrations from aircraft taking off and rushing trains at great speed. Daxing Airport’s construction has an innovative structure of C-pillars. Huihui (2020) suggests that the structure of the building has many advantages, such as flexibility of space, energy-saving measures, and interior design. It is essential to add that ten C-shaped pillars support the terminal’s steel structure roof. According to Huihui (2020), this C-pillar concept was developed and proposed by Zaha Hadid’s office during the design phase of Daxing International Airport. Zaha Hadid named the idea C-pillars because the plane of the pillar is not closed but rather C-shaped, as shown in Figure 1 below.
Additionally, the C-shaped pillars of the Airport are wide at the top, exactly about 23 meters, and narrow at the bottom, only 3 meters. Thus, smooth lines connect the 49m roof to the ground and pass through the rear pillars from top to bottom. The International Airport is definitely a piece of architectural art that surprises visitors with its vaulted ceilings, flowing shapes, and natural light.
Lighting System
The structure of Daxing International Airport is designed with lighting in mind. Thus, the C-pillar is not only a structure and unique design but also a channel for introducing natural light into the Airport. The dedicated smart lighting system is another design solution that uses natural light to save energy by eliminating the need to turn on artificial lights at specific times.
Initially, the Airport’s terminal was designed with 8 C-pillars, but as a result of in-depth design, the architects found out that there was insufficient daylight in the reception area. Therefore, there was a conflict between the structure and lighting systems, which was resolved by adding two more pillars on the east and west sides to enhance the daylight illumination. These added structures were designed not only to improve “the lighting of the check-in hall but also allow natural lighting to directly reach the luggage extraction hall on the second floor through the atrium” (Huihui, 2020, p. 2). Artificial lighting, organically integrated into the architecture and combined with natural light through the ceiling light openings in the ceilings, plays a significant role in the complex measures that ensure a high comfort level.
Notably, flexible lighting is a full-fledged green component of airport infrastructure. Huihui (2020) describes that the tops of the C-pillars are bubble-shaped skylights. For instance, Figure 2 illustrates the skylights on the roof of the Daxing International Airport. Thus, the C-pillars provide sunlight from skylights during the day. Skylights give building visitors a sense of transparency and openness, creating a comfortable interior atmosphere.
Furthermore, thanks to these light channels, the airport terminal practically does not need artificial daylight since the light coming from the channels is enough for the interior. Huihui (2020) emphasized that the skylights and structural elements that are the perfect combination of the artistry of architecture and airport functionality. Natural light from the C-pillars saves energy consumption in the building and improves the psychological comfort of passengers. Huihui (2020, p. 5) indicates that “the distribution of skylights matches the spatial layout of the terminal building and the flow of passengers.” Moreover, the lightning system helps passengers to find directions easily.
The Airport’s lighting provides a high level of comfort and human orientation. Also, the double-layer insulating glass of the roof windows has a built-in darkening circuit (Huihui, 2020). Zhou et al. (2020) note that the Airport has the largest roof area in the world. Architects and engineers designed an innovative sunshade that includes metal mesh between glass panes and turns sixty percent of the natural direct light to diffuse light (Zhou et al., 2020). Thus, the terminal has good heat insulation and avoids direct sunlight.
The total energy consumption of a building is related to daylight and thermal performance. Huihui (2020) indicates that skylights improve light uniformity in deep areas of an airport by allowing natural light to enter the building. Consequently, this design contributes to low lighting energy consumption and saves air conditioning energy.
Rainwater and Sewage System
China faces crucial environmental problems such as flooding, water pollution, and shortage. In addition, the Chinese government encourages water environment protection through extensive water resource management (Guo and Wang, 2018). Significantly, Beijing has a severe water shortage issue; thus, the sewage and rainwater should be recycled and used as a renewable resource for the eco-friendly Airport (Guo and Wang, 2018). Guo and Wang (2018) state that the Beijing Daxing International Airport is located next to the Tiantang River in the North and the Yongding River in the South. Therefore, the development of safe operation between mentioned rivers, and the Airport is crucial. The architects and designers of Beijing Daxing International Airport developed a particular system that collects and re-treats sewage and rainwater.
Rainwater and sewage systems focus on the collection, storage, and filtration of rainwater for on-site reuse. Peng et al. (2020) emphasize the importance of rainwater systems in China because the number of waterlogged cities is growing. Therefore, the sponge city concept was introduced to reduce waterlogging (Hu et al., 2018). Therefore, many modern constructions in China have a rainwater system construction that works like a sponge, namely absorbs, filters, and stores rainwater (Peng et al., 2020). Guo and Wang (2018) suggest that the sponge airport system’s fundamental goals include “total runoff volume, runoff pollution, drainage and waterlogging, stormwater resource management, and water environment protection according to the objectives of drainage, flood prevention, and sponge airport construction” (p. 5). Guo and Wang (2018) also describe the concept of a sponge airport as construction that includes various land types, such as the construction area itself, lakes, rivers, and roads. Consequently, considering the construction area, it is vital to combine the systems, such as drainage, water, and vertical planning.
Bejing Daxing International Airport is an excellent example of a building with a sponge rainwater system with digital management. The system is used for the natural treatment of up to 2.8 million cubic meters of rainwater (Design Build Network). In addition, the rainwater system includes ponds, canals, and irrigated fields and also directs the water towards streams and lakes.
Accordingly, the rainwater system collects rainwater and uses it for fire control, flushing toilets, greening, and other means of reusing. Peng et al. (2020) suggest that low-impact development (LID) facilities are crucial for constructing and designing a building. Hence, LID facilities’ functions include collecting rainwater, filtrating, and reusing other systems. In addition, LID facilities make buildings like sponges, which refers to the good construction elasticity and environmental adjustment, especially in critical situations like rainstorms. The LID facilities of the sponge airport include “biological retention, grass planted ditch, rainwater bucket, permeable pavement, concave green space” (Peng et al., 2020, p. 385). The emphasis on protecting the environment when constructing buildings is a responsibility to maintain a suitable living environment. Thus, the intelligent use of the LID facilities with specially designed systems is an economical solution to help preserve the environment.
Heating and Cooling System
The heating and cooling system is developed following the latest technologies. Bejing Daxing International Airport is solar-powered and has a centralized heating system with waste heat recovery, backed by a geothermal heat pump (Ravenscroft, 2019). Zhou et al. (2020) also acknowledge that the Airport has ground-source heat pumps and solar photovoltaics. The building has solar panels with a total capacity of at least ten megawatts (Design Build Network). The facility includes a single integrated heating and cooling system based on modern “green technologies” and aims to decrease energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Significantly, a combined ground source heat pump system maintains heating, including waste heat recovery. Sony et al. (2021) suggest that GSHPS relates to renewable energy technologies and has been used in China for building heating and cooling systems. For instance, Beijing Daxing International Airport is equipped with a ground-source heat pump (GSHP) system, which extracts shallow geothermal energy, saves natural gas, and reduces carbon emissions (Xinxua, 2019). Therefore, the Airport uses the highest proportion of renewable energy, namely twelve percent of total energy demand, compared to any airport in China (Zhou et al., 2020). In addition, the heating and rainwater circulation systems are connected. As mentioned above, the Airport has implemented a rainwater circulation system that includes systems for collecting, accumulating, and distributing rainwater, thus protecting the airport area from floods and overheating.
Beijing Daxing International Airport has the most extensive GSHP system in China because it includes two heating stations with a building area of approximately 17,000 square meters. A ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) system utilizes shallow soil as the heat source or heat sink (Song et al., 2021). Consequently, it consists of a combination of borehole heat exchangers and heat pump units buried in the ground. According to Song et al. (2021, p. 1), “it is called ‘closed-loop,’ also known as closed-loop GSHP or soil source heat pump.” The process of water or antifreeze solution circulation releases the indoor heat to the soil in summer, while in winter, the circulation absorbs the heat from the ground. In addition, Sony et al. (2021) illustrate the buried pipes of the system, as shown in Figure 3. Hence, the authors explain that “the total length of buried pipes is 10,680 m, and the buried area is 267,000 square meters; the heating and cooling capacities of the system are 54.2 MW and 48.8 MW, respectively” (p. 7). The detailed diagram of the piping system and heating stations’ location is demonstrated below.
The Airport’s air-conditioning system is environmentally eco-friendly and resource-efficient because it utilizes geothermal resources to enable indoor cooling and heating. In addition, the ventilation, heating, and air-conditioning are connected to the same ground-source heat pump system (Zhou et al., 2020). Therefore, the system is energy-saving; it conserves approximately twenty million m3 of natural gas per year (Zhou et al., 2020). Beijing is known for its rapidly changing weather and looming smog. That is why the designers of the Airport, according to Heating and Ventilating Review (2019), included air curtains in the project. The air curtains provide a comfortable environment inside the building and prevent the entry of polluted air and insects into the complex’s interior.
Conclusion
It is essential to add that the Airport reflects its time, includes elements of society’s material and spiritual culture, and synthesizes the results and means of the latest technologies, art, culture, production, and consumption. Thus, during the construction, designers considered Chinese traditions and cultural aesthetics. Beijing’s new Airport meets the highest environmental standards through the implementation of rainwater harvesting, natural lighting, ventilation, and other technologies that save energy and are built for the environment. The Airport uses digital systems and the latest technology, which demonstrates progress and emphasizes modernism.
Versatile design training has enabled architects to accomplish a wide range of professional tasks. The Airport was designed with research and design in mind for a comfortable, harmonious, and safe built environment and its components. Hence, natural, social, economic, and engineering factors were taken into account in the design. For example, an airport is a green building that uses recycled energy and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. The lighting system was designed with the building structure in mind, as the C-pillars with bubble windows at the top let in a tremendous amount of daylight, which helps to reduce energy consumption.
Lighting systems, power supply, heating, sewerage, ventilation, and water supply provide the necessary comfort of the building. Thus, all systems are interconnected since the structure of the building ensures the trouble-free operation of various methods. The development and design of the building took four years and included rigorous calculations, taking into account the architectural features of the planned Airport. Therefore, qualified architects and engineers developed building systems during the design phase.
Conflicts have arisen; however, they have been resolved. For example, 8 C-pillars of the structure were planned in the beginning, but this was not enough to ensure adequate lighting. Moreover, the architects and interior designers developed and added two more C-pillars. It is essential to say that the environmental issue is fundamental in Beijing, so all systems have been integrated into buildings with ecological concerns in mind. Moreover, the Airport is equipped with solar panels and has a centralized heating system. Thus, the building is heated by an efficient ground source heat pump system that extracts geothermal energy and saves natural gas. The architects also developed a unique rainwater collection and treatment system for subsequent use.
Designing complex buildings like Beijing Daxing International Airport is a time-consuming but interesting process. The main goal of architects, designers, and engineers is to create a harmonious union of the internal space of the structure and its external appearance. Design is the most crucial stage in building construction and is necessary for calculating construction calculations, planning systems, choosing materials, setting deadlines for construction, and clarifying requirements.
At the design stage, the future building’s structure is laid, and the frame for all subsequent stages of construction is developed. Furthermore, engineering drawings, diagrams, and calculations, such as consecration, heating, and water treatment systems, help realize the planned construction’s architectural design. As a result of the architects’ and designers’ efforts, the idea is transformed into the future building’s graphic design. The interior designer, in turn, deals with the spatial arrangement and planning to improve the conditions of the building. For example, the responsibilities of an interior designer include the entire internal design process, from building planning, lighting, ventilation, heating, acoustics, wall decoration, and ending the choice of furniture and textile design.
Conclusion
To conclude, an interior designer should be an engineer because it is vital to consider the structural features and calculate what and in what quantity materials will be required for construction and how to integrate the systems. Consequently, the interior designer, like the architect involved in the development of a building construction project and its exterior, should have engineering knowledge and be able to design interiors, taking into consideration the technical characteristics of the building.
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