Zaha Hadid had conceived Beijing International airport to be as compact as possible, current Zaha Hadid Architects' principal Patrik Schumacher pursued her design and wish. Inaugurated last month by President Xi Jinping, Beijing Daxing, was assigned the code "PKX" by the International Air Transport Association thus setting a new standard in air transport services by serving the region's growing population within a compact and efficient passenger terminal that is adaptable for future growth.

Patrik Schumacher explains: "The compact radial design of the terminal allows a maximum number of aircraft to be parked directly at the terminal with minimum distances from the centre of the building, providing exceptional convenience for passengers and flexibility in operations. Five aircraft piers radiate directly from the terminal's main central court where all passenger services and amenities are located, enabling passengers to walk the comparatively short distances through the airport without the need for automated shuttle trains. As a result the terminal's compact design minimises distances between check-in and gate, as well as connections between gates for transferring passengers. This radial configuration ensures the farthest boarding gate can be accessed in a walking time of less than eighth minutes."

Zaha Hadid Architects was founded in 1980 by Hadid. The studio has been led by Schumacher since she passed away in 2016.
The studio recently completed the Al Wakrah Stadium for World Cup in Qatar and the Opus hotel in Dubai

Photography by Hufton
More info @ https://www.zaha-hadid.com