2014 – Port of Kinmen _ Taiwan
Project Port of Kinmen – 金門之 金門
Program Ferry terminal
Floor area 40 000 m²
Place Kinmen, Taiwan
Context Port of Kinmen Passenger Service Center Planning, Design and Construction Supervision Service Project
Team Eric Cassar, Tomas Borek, Wei Xie, Laurent Ravry, Lucie Rieutord
Engineering Arup
Local architect Alex Architects and Associates
General principles
A ferry terminal :
- should not be a huge noisy hangar with a generic architecture.
- should identify the place.
- is one of the main entrance for an island. It is visible in the distance, coming slowly from the sea (ferry speed).
- is the first physical contact with an island when you arrive and the last one when you leave… It should print the sensory memory.
- is for travelers but it should also be destined to citizens. It should animate the city and exalt the poetic of the harbor. It is a place of transit but it could also be a place to stay, a place to come.
- is a building designed for flow optimization. It is made of several sequences. It has to propose different atmospheres dealing with sound, view, temperature and texture…
To make it unique, we subtly play with the chinese curves, dealing with the roof of old temple, we play with the vegetation dealing with the natural resources and wild diversity of the island, we play with the colors using gold reflect to quote the Kinmen island symbol, image history (Kinmen means « golden gate » in chinese)…
CONCEPTS
- Chinese roof
In the distance arriving by boat, visitor sees a wing with curve line, a contemporary chinese roof which connects the land with the sky.
The golden reflects of the ferry terminal shine. They are visible in the distance. The arrival takes time (boat speed), it is a dynamic event announcing the island entrance.
- Citizen’s roof
The ferry terminal is also a meeting place for people living around, dealing with the poetic of the harbor : watching boats arriving and leaving. The arrival hall is an inside public space, from there people can have access to the building roof. This oblique roof offers clear views and seats for everyone. It is an opportunity to gather people for special events : concert or fireworks on the water once or twice a year…
- Flows
A ferry terminal is a place holding human feelings : people arriving and leaving should see themselves even if they can not have physical contact.
Building structure is made of 2 tubes : One tube for departure waiting space. The other tube for arrival leading space. There are three intertwined circulation : a citizen promenade ribbon, a departure ribbon, an arrival ribbon.
- Vegetation
On more ribbon is made of vegetation. It brings the green from city to the building
Once ferry is arrived, visitors discover the golden island full of trees and vegetations, out and inside the building.
- Greenhouse
We create an arrival in nature, dealing with the theme of wild vegetation, nature, and history. The greenhouse which is both the arrival hall and a public place is like a tree house. It evokes the picturesque memory of the island. It proposes a unique atmosphere dealing with the authenticity of Kinmen, holding vegetation and free birds.
The greenhouse is an open volume from ground to sky. It acts as a fresh air intakes with pre-filtration through greenery.
- City side / Sea side : 2 different atmospheres
The city facade is changing. It deals with new technologies connecting several spaces. It informs people on ferries arrival and departure but also on other informations dealing with the island. It offers virtual windows, connected with Taiwan island…
The double envelope create an in-beetween space including the structure and video projectors which animate the facade. The outside envelope is fabric (sun shade & screen).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE FLOWS
Departure
Coming back from the city and ready to leave the island, visitors enter the building, check in their luggage, pass the control and have then access to the top floor offering impress of architecture. It will be their last physical contact with the island. The space includes both inside and outside gardens, duty free shops and waiting areas either open to the sea, to the city, or to the gardens. Before they board, they leave the land by this open garden leading to the green corridor and forest to have final access to the boat.
Arrival
Visitors enter the building through a long corridor open to the view, they pass control, keep their luggage and enter the arrival room, which is a huge greenhouse with wild vegetation, trees and birds. This arrival hall is an indoor public place including shops. This public space offers a direct access to an inside parking including bus and taxis (loading banks).
SUSTAINABILITY & INTELLIGENT GREEN BUILDING
Playing with natural events
Building transforms intrinsic elements and climate events in poetry and usable energy thanks to a computer system: THE CORE.
The core regulates the immaterial architecture.
Wind turbines (manned with a dust filter) will create energy and maximize the possibility of using cross ventilation to exhaust hot air from the building (hybrid ventilation).
Bamboo charcoal will be visible and used to dehumidify and purify the air inside the buildings.
The variety of inside spaces will avoid noise to propagate.
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