Liantang|Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Passager | WAU Design
The firm WAU Design has left behind the often dull and vapid spatial conditions of conventional boarder crossing facilities in search of a new, more dynamic approach to the typology.
The Hong Kong/Shenzhen Boarder Control Point intelligently meshes planned function with exterior and interior form. The basic cuboid shape which describes the building in section is extruded from one end of the building and rotated 90 ̊ clockwise. This deformation weakens conceptions of what and where the building is. It is no longer a rigid structure with well defined walls, floors, and roofs, tasked with the movement of persons from one locale to another. Instead it becomes something with vivacity, moving and changing itself as it ushers its occupants along.
Courtesy of WAU Studio
Within the building, this ‘people-oriented’ approach is extended from the envelope, inward, to program. The two conventional clearance streamlines are consolidated into one. Departure points in both directions are relegated to the same floor, the 2nd, in order to decrease confusion amongst travelers. Dependence on vertical transportation, which can lead to mobs of disoriented travelers trying to find the right way to go, is reduced through the use of low-slope ramps which take occupants through the building. Travelers in both directions meet visually at the middle portion of the building. Here, at the turn, the torque of the building envelope, passengers from both directions can meet eyes and share the common experience of traveling to somewhere new.
Courtesy of WAU Studio
Project info :
Project Name: Liantang / Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Passenger Terminal Building (Commendation Entry)
Architect: WAU Design
Location: Shenzhen / Hong Kong, China
Function: Infrastructure
Design Period: 2011
Site Area: 22.6 ha.
Project Area: 24,000 m2
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.