The Iconic Roof of The Terminal, Exquisitely Made with a Series of Cast in Place Concrete Vaults

The iconic roof of the terminal, exquisitely made with a series of cast in place concrete vaults, is supported by a simple yet almost fragile and extremely delicate structural system of slick steel columns and cable framework. This allows the roof to float over a unidirectional space connecting the adjacent river with the garden, while allowing unhindered flow of the mass transit system. Its openness and transparency mark it as a distinctive place that supports speed and momentum which are the hallmarks of a terminal, while the gracefully balanced structure itself provides a unique and sublime experience.

The M2 Tourist Terminal is one of the most important termi- nals along the Huangpu River in Shanghai. It was once a busy water gate for the Shanghai 2010 Expo.  However, nowadays, its existence sets apart the parks on both sides and hinges the completion of Huangpu River Public Space Program, which is a total transformation and improvement of the waterfront imple- mented by the municipal government to ‘give the river back to the people”.  The design aims to solve the problem through vertically layered spaces: first, it means to weave itself into the landscape system of Huangpu Riverfront by connecting the existing parks to the west and to the east; second, it intends to open a landscaped corridor in the terminal from the city to the south directly to the waterfront in the north. The first layer overlaps the second one.

The design overcomes the dilemma between large-scale transportation architecture beneath and the upper public space caused by the limited height. The building is an earth-sheltered structure with a continuing barrel vaulting system.  The vault form provides enough height for the waiting room below while the gap between the vaults provides space for the flowerbeds above. The lowering height of the building allows for the connection of the parks on both sides through a slightly- sloped terrain and opens a view to the river for the buildings behind. 

Project Information

Project Name: M2 Tourist Port at Bai Lianjing, Shanghai

Location: China

Architect: Ming Zhang