SOM Wins Master Plan Competition for Beijing Bohai Innovation City Along High Speed Rail Line

<a href="http://www.som.com/content.cfm/beijing_bohai_innovation_city" target="_blank">SOM</a> just won a design competition with their proposal for the masterplan of Beijing Bohai Innovation City, which will be situated along a new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/chinas-high-speed-rail-expansion-across-asia-and-europe-now-in-progress/" target="_blank">high speed rail</a> line running from Beijing to Tanggu, China. With a strong focus on open space, nature, walkability, public transportation and sustainable design, the new satellite city will serve as a model for future developments. SOM's plan places the high speed rail station in the center of the city with convenient connections to other modes of public transportation.

Half of the 1,473-hectare site will be allocated to open space and nature, while the rest will be dedicated to public transport, premier headquarters for advanced industries, and housing and shops for residents.

The city will be centered around the high speed rail station with convenient connections to metro and bus lines with access to the five distinct neighborhoods offering diverse housing, education, shopping and work destinations.

<a href="http://www.som.com/" target="_blank">SOM</a> has already set high targets for water, energy, waste, renewable energy and building design efficiency.

The city will also make use of functional environmental systems to filter and clean storm water before returning it to adjoining rivers.

Located just outside of Beijing, the satellite city and suburb will host 17.6 million square meters of mixed-use development and help develop the Bohai Rim, a region that already accounts for more than a quarter of China’s GDP.

Map showing the location of Beijing Bohai Innovation City along the high speed rail route.