#OTD: Beijing Daxing International Airport began passenger operations three years ago. . 46km south of the city (20 mins by express train), Beijing Daxing’s 700,000m2 passenger terminal includes a ground transportation centre offering direct connections with the national high-speed rail network and local train services. . Echoing principles within traditional Chinese architecture that organise interconnected spaces around a central courtyard, the design guides all passengers seamlessly through the relevant departure, arrival or transfer zones towards the courtyard at its centre. . 6 flowing forms within the terminal’s vaulted roof reach to the ground to support the structure and bring natural light within, directing all passengers towards the central court. Linear skylights provide an intuitive system of navigation throughout the building, guiding passengers to and from their departure gates. . The compact radial design allows a maximum number of aircraft to be parked directly at the terminal with minimum distances from the centre of the building, providing exceptional convenience for passengers and flexibility in operations. . 5 aircraft piers radiate from the terminal’s main central court where all passenger services & amenities are located, enabling passengers to walk the short distances from check-in to all gates in under 8 minutes. . Incorporating 10MW of photovoltaic power generation, centralised heating with waste heat recovery and one of the world’s largest composite ground-source heat pump systems, the airport implements rainwater collection and a water management network with natural storage, natural permeation and natural purification of up to 2.8 million cubic meters of water in new wetlands, lakes and streams. . #OnThisDay #BeijingDaxingInternationalAirport #architecture #zahahadid #zahahadidarchitects . Video by Dan Chung