China unveils `flying ray-styled` eco-conscious Shenzhen airport’s new terminal
Washington – China has recently unveiled its brand new Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport terminal, which is eco-friendly and futuristic in appearance.
The new terminal replaces three airport terminals, resembles a mobula or a flying ray and has been designed by an Italian architectural firm, FUKSAS.
According to CNN, the new terminal cost a whopping 1.4 billion dollars to construct and is three times larger than the current terminals combined, providing 76 airplane slots.
The 451,000-square-meter new terminal consists of honeycomb-patterned windows in the ceiling that allows for maximum penetration of sunlight, reducing energy consumption while rainwater is recycled in toilets and used to water indoor plants.
The report said that it is the first airport in China to feature a 10-megawatt solar power plant, which cranks out enough power to support 10,000 US households per month.
Shenzhen transport commission spokesman Huang Min said that the only regret of this project would be that the subway line connecting the terminal to the city won’t be completed until 2016.
The new two-runway terminal is expected to handle 45 million passengers and 2 million tons of cargo annually, the report added.