Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Artificial Island Port Project is a transport hub connecting the cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. Located at the easternmost end of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, The Artificial Island Port creates a political, economic and cultural link between the three cities. It is equipped with all kinds of transportation and functional aspects like a travel hub, integrating various modes of transport viz clearance buses, buses, taxis, etc.
Location: Hong Kong (SAR)
Architects: East China Architecture Design Institute (ECADI)
Area: 1140000 m²
Year: 2018
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Artificial Island Port is an essential part of the magnificent construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and also a crucial connection for its traffic. The project has been a boon for Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao as it promotes trade, culture and tourism by reducing the travel time from almost 4 hours to 30 minutes. It is the first artificially-filled island project in China where it is with two ports under governments of two cities, becoming the gateway to those cities.
1) Design Philosophy
i) Planning
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Artificial Island Port has limited land, therefore to meet functional requirements the complex method of a comprehensive transportation hub is adopted. The Zhuhai Port and Macao Port have a stereoscopic layout, which provides more space rather than the traditional pancake layout for the port. There is a stereoscopic exchange in the transportation centre with the exit/entry on different layers, and also layered distribution of port roads.
ii) One Place for Three Customs Clearance
The artificial Island port is the only customs clearance port of Macau in China and the Guangdong Province, Hong Kong. It caters to 1,50,000 passengers along with an everyday customs clearance between Zhuhai and Hong Kong consisting of 18,000 passenger cars and 17,000 trucks, also between Zhuhai and Macau consisting of 100,000 passengers and 3,000 passenger cars. It has numerous creative inspection modes, including back-to-back inspection and customs clearance mode for passengers, and one-stop joint inspection clearance mode for trucks and passenger cars.
iii) An Island with Two Ports
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port has two parts- the south part, which is governed by Macau and the north part, governed by Zhuhai. The south part comprises the Macau Highway Port with the area of 716,100m2 and the total construction area of 620,000m2. The north part, consisting of the Zhuhai Highway Port which has 1.071 million m2 area and the total construction area of about 520,000m2.
iv) One Point to Three Places
In the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port, the architects adopted the planning pattern of three points in one line. While making it innovative and graceful as per the requirements of the client, It also reflects the Chinese philosophy of life as well as the fine modelling and moral of the artificial island port. The core design of the island is a simplistic and elegant whole enriched with a round mass which is mellow without sharp corners and a sense of direction.
v) Three-Dimensional Layout in the Hub
The overall layout embraces the design method of having one core, one line, two branches, and a vast circulation to create a comprehensive transportation hub. It produces a people-oriented design concept and a complex functional requirement. It also achieves an overall layout, by adopting the strategy of exchange space in three-dimensions, for the traditional port, Zhuhai and Macau port.
v) Traffic Flow
The design of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port traffic is such that the large buses and bus parking lots are following the mass transit. Under the first floor between the transportation centre and the passenger inspection building, The subway connection lines are present. The tram lines and the equipment are on the north side of the traffic corridor.
Creating a convenient passenger experience, in which they can reach any area of the port, the design is on the principles of three-dimensional transport, step-by-step distribution and one-way circulation. There is a passenger inspection area which mimics the method of three-dimensional lamination, integration of moving lines, separation of people and vehicles, as well as the separation of entrance and exit.
vi) Future Development
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port project has efficient and intensive land resources. The artificial island had set aside valuable land for comprehensive development, also laying a foundation for the future development of port commerce and trade. The passenger walking distance and entry-exit passengers are effectively controlled and organized.
vii) Commercial Layout
The architects have sought an orderly planned commercial development of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port and have also set up four levels of business that are closely combined with the clearance process of the port, making the Artificial Island Port become a comprehensive hub.
The first level is the duty-free centre on the passenger inspection channel. The exit/entry of duty-free serving passengers set on the outbound side of exit/entry in Zhuhai Port inspection building, in combination with customs clearance process and sightseeing zone of the bridge.
The second level is for vigorous business in combination with a traffic centre. The tourist distribution centre, dining and shopping centre is set in the traffic transfer centre on Zhuhai side, and boutique shopping centre serves high-end passengers on access to the planned rail transit station and comprehensive development zone.
The third level is a supporting service zone linking with the core area, which is on the west side of the core area and links with the pedestrian mall, including hotels, offices and meeting affairs centre.
The fourth level is a port-based comprehensive development zone, which is on the north side of Zhuhai Port, and linked with the port by traffic corridor.
2) Materials/ Construction
The significant materials used for the overall construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port are Metal, Steel, Concrete and Glass.
i) Disaster Precautions
Zhuhai has frequent typhoons, and since the port is on the offshore artificial island, the prime concerns while construction were floods, hurricanes and water-logging. The collaboration of practices by adopting a series of technologies such as construction, structure, water supply and drainage.
ii) Construction
The construction and design teams of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port, before the beginning of the work, subtly realized that the passenger flows of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau artificial island port would provide an exceptional opportunity for the overall advancement of the port.
Systematic planning of the port future development layers, commercial layout and the set four layers of business, were closely integrated with the customs clearance process of the port to make it a complete pivot port.
3) Sustainability
The design of the complex to enhance passengers’ experience is done in such a manner to utilize an efficient and convenient process with concise and clear guidance to create a comfortable and pleasant space. The application of innovative inspection modes as well as The intelligent traffic management system and an emergency platform makes it the smartest customs clearance port in China.
i) Green Architecture, Ecological Port
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port adopts green and energy-saving technologies due to which The Zhuhai Port has awarded the Three-Star Green Environmental Protection Design. The design keeps in mind the climatic conditions of Zhuhai and the sustainable techniques used are natural ventilation, natural lighting, building shading and greening microenvironment.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Artificial Island Port is the transport hub that not only creates seamless mobility between cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau, but also creates a social identity by increasing the historical value of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as promoting up the economic union of the Pearl River Delta, and boosting the economy of the region.
