Beijing Fengtai Station / gmp Architects

With the new Fengtai Station in Beijing, the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) have completed a complex transport building: in terms of square area, it is Asia’s largest railway station and the first railway station in China, which the tracks for high-speed trains are located above those for normal trains, which significantly reduces the footprint area of the station. Under its seemingly floating roof the new station – with two levels above ground and a floor area of almost 400,000 square meters – combines a system of different transport lines. Twelve tracks for the high-speed trains going north/south from Beijing to Hong Kong and from Zhangjiakou to Shanghai are located as terminus stations at the top level. The conventional railway lines with 20 tracks are at level 0, and two underground lines are at the level below. With these services, Fengtai Station will be an important new transport intersection and the largest of Beijing’s three intercity railway stations. At peak times it is expected that up to 20,000 passengers will use the station to arrive, depart or change trains.