Announcement丨Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone 2023 “Air Silk Road” Urban Design and Creative Architecture International Competition——Future City Urban Design International Competition

   

Part1 Introduction to Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone

Background

Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone (referred to as "ZAEZ") is located in the core area of Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area, it is an important pivot point for building Zhengzhou Metropolitan Circle and cultivating the Central Plains City Cluster. It has an important position in the development pattern of domestic and international double-cycle to connect the east and the west, and to connect the south and north. Zhengzhou City Territorial Spatial Master Plan (2021-2035) (Process Draft) specifies the ZAEZ as one of the dual cores for Zhengzhou to build the functional space for the national central city.

The development of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone began in 1997 with the construction of Xinzheng Airport, and in 2013 it became the first and currently the only national-level aerotropolis economic development pioneer area approved by the State Council, with an approved area of 415 square kilometers. Since the approval of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, the State Council of the Party Central Committee, the Provincial Government of Henan Province, and the Zhengzhou Municipal Government attaches great importance to it.

On June 14, 2017, during his meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Bettel, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated that "China supports the construction of the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg 'Air Silk Road'"; In February 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again stressed the importance of "expanding and strengthening the China-Luxembourg cargo route ' Air Silk Road '" when he met with Grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg. On November 16, 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Luxembourg, noting that "the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg 'Air Silk Road' has built an air bridge between China and Europe".

Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone has been included in national strategic plans such as Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development in the Central Region in the New Era and Outline of the Plan for Ecological Protection and High-Quality Development of the Yellow River Basin by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, and has been established as the "calling card" of Henan's high-quality development, the "leader" of high-level opening, and the "leader" of Zhengzhou national central city construction.

In September 2021, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee decided to incorporate 320 square kilometers of 4 towns in Weishi County into the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, expanding the scope of ZAEZ to 747 square kilometers. With a forward-looking vision of thirty years, in April 2022, Henan Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government systematically reshaped and reformed the ZAEZ, expanding the development area into a core area (747km2 ), a linkage area (1100 km2, including the core area) and a synergy area (3200 km2, including the linkage area). It is required to build a "modernized, internationalized, world-class logistics hub", a "core growth pole of the Central Plains Economic Zone and Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area", and an institutional open "Central Plains Special Zone".

Positioning and Function Orientation

Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone is the pioneer area of the "Air Silk Road", the national aviation economic experimental zone, the core growth pole of the Central Plains Economic Zone and Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area, the modern international world-class logistics hub, and the Central Plains Special Zone. Currently, in accordance with the new development goals, Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone has established a new pattern of 21 cities, including:

Future City, is positioned as an international first-class business center, the leading industries are headquarters economy, culture, sports and entertainment, business and technology services.

Digital Port, is positioned as a leading area for the innovative development of the digital economy, with leading industries of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, industrial internet, and digital platforms.

International Land Port, is positioned as a logistics hub radiating to the whole country and connecting to the world, and its leading industries are modern logistics, bulk commodity trading, and comprehensive bonded.

Auto City, is positioned as an international leading new energy vehicle manufacturing base, with leading industries of new energy vehicles, energy storage batteries, and intelligent manufacturing.

Electronic City, is positioned as an important functional area for trillion-level electronic information industry clusters, with leading industries of new-generation information technology, semiconductor integrated circuits, and new displays.

Biomedical City, is positioned as a driving nucleus to lead and drive the development of the biomedical industry in the Central Plains, the leading industries are large-scale production and manufacturing of innovative drugs, APIs, and medical devices.

Vocational Education City is positioned as a training base for skilled technical talents with deep integration of industry and education, with leading industries such as vocational education, industry-teaching services, and skills training.

Smart City, is positioned as a future-oriented smart manufacturing new city, the leading industries are high-end intelligent equipment, new generation information technology, and new materials.

Zhongyuan Medical Science City is positioned as a medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare innovation and development highland with national influence, the leading industries are science and technology research and development, biomedicine, life, and health.

Ancient City Area, is positioned as a gathering area for the development of digital and high-tech industries, the leading industries are intelligent manufacturing, platform economy, and supply chain finance.

Creative Fashion City, is positioned as the core area of the International Creative Fashion Center, the leading industries are creative design, digital fashion, cultural tourism, and cultural creation.

Garden Expo International Eco-city is positioned as a new generation of eco-living place with leading industries of residential services, commercial services, culture, and entertainment.

The Metropolitan Central Park is positioned as a high-quality urban green center for living and working, with leading industries of residential services, commercial consumption, leisure, and cultural tourism.

Window of the Central Plains is positioned as a new gateway for international exchanges, the leading industries are headquarters economy and business services. 

Aviation Hub Port is positioned as a powerhouse for high-quality development in the central region, with leading industries of air transportation services, aviation logistics, and aviation maintenance.

Logistics Park is positioned as an important carrying area of the International Transportation and Logistics Center, the leading industries are express distribution, big data center, and supply chain services.

Convention and Exhibition City is positioned as the core platform of the International Trade Center, the leading industries are convention and exhibition services, international trade, and headquarters economy.

High-speed Rail Port, is positioned as a national high-speed rail logistics experimental zone, with leading industries of high-speed rail logistics, business services, and high-end commerce.

Aerospace City, is positioned as an aerospace science and technology innovation and development zone, with leading industries of aviation manufacturing and maintenance, satellite navigation, and aerospace information.

North Port City, is positioned as a business service center in the central region, with leading industries of business commerce, human resources, and international medical care.

University City is positioned as an international city of science, education and innovation, with leading industries of higher education, science and technology research and development.

Under the background of global industrial changes and national regional economic layout optimization and adjustment, facing the new opportunities of regional development with the expansion of Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area and systematic reform of the ZAEZ, the development direction, function planning, and spatial layout of the ZAEZ, especially the Future City, are in urgent need of a new round of review and research. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the arrangements of the construction scale of various industries and construction timing to promote effective investment in scientific functional layout.

Part2 Announcement

Competition Purpose

To implement the development orientation of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone (referred to as "ZAEZ") required by the party central, provincial committee, and provincial government, firmly establish the ambition of "setting sail again for the second time" and achieve the ambition of "taking off for the second time", the Administrative Committee of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone insists on leading high-quality development with high-level planning, does a good job of top-level design, and plans to organize the Future City Urban Design International Competition of Henan Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone by the work requirements of "Three Studies and Three Enhancements" and "Three Standards".

The competition is divided into 2 tasks, one is to make an overall urban design optimization and enhancement, the second is to make a detailed urban design of the Future City. The competition aims to collect urban design schemes that are forward-looking, innovative, and implementation-oriented to help promote the high grade, high standard, and high-quality construction and development of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone.

Design Scope and Design Brief

(1)Overall Urban Design Optimization and Enhancement

Design Scope: The design area is under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, covering an area of about 747 square kilometers.

Design Brief: Facing the new orientation of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone and the new pattern of 21 urban functional areas (referred to as "21 Cities "), the design agency should propose innovative concepts and general ideas for the optimization and enhancement of the overall urban design, taking into account the excellent cases of aviation ports and new city construction at home and abroad; evaluate the current situation of the construction of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone and the existing relevant master plans, and propose an overall spatial pattern and 21 cities’ layout optimization scheme; propose design enhancement strategies for integrated urban traffic, spatial forms, landscape features, and public spaces; propose guidelines for the construction of 21 cities.

(2)Detailed Urban Design of the Future City

Design Scope: North to Chaohu Road, east to Jiude South Street, south to Yandu Avenue, west to Binhe East Road, including the Future City and the Digital Port of the 21 cities, covering an area of about 27 square kilometers.

Design Brief: Propose the overall development orientation and industrial function planning scheme of the Future City; propose the overall planning design concept and the scheme of spatial pattern and functional layout; analyze and study the site characteristics and construction conditions, propose innovative and implementable design ideas, and formulate design strategies for spatial form, public space, landscape environment, architectural clusters, and characteristic traffic; research implementation and control to form urban design guidelines in the Results Integration and Deepening Stage.

Competition Method

-Method

The competition adopts the "invitation + open call" method.

The list of the 2 invited design agencies is as follows (in no particular order):

TEKUMA FRENCHMAN URBAN DESIGN, LLC and CHINA NORTHWEST ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO.,LTD.

NIHON SEKKEI,INC.  

-Work stages

The competition is divided into Pre-qualification Stage, Scheme Design and Review Stage, and Results Integration and Deepening Stage.

(1)Pre-qualification Stage

The Host will publicly announce the competition for domestic and international design agencies, which will submit the corresponding registration materials and concept proposals, and the Host will select 3 finalists to take part in the " Scheme design and review stage" together with the 2 invited design agencies.

(2)Scheme Design and Review Stage

After the 5 shortlisted design agencies sign the Participation Confirmation Letter and the Confidentiality Commitment, the Host will organize the shortlisted design agencies to conduct the site visit and Q&A and provide the design brief and design basic information for the project design stage. After the shortlisted design agencies submit the required deliverables within the specified time, the Host will organize the Scheme Design Review Meeting to select the top three excellent schemes among the shortlisted design programs.

(3)Results Integration and Deepening Stage

The integration and deepening of the results include: ①Optimize and enhance the integration of the overall urban design of the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone. ②To give guidelines for the optimization and enhancement of 21 urban functional areas. ③ Integrate the urban design results of the Future City and form the Urban Design Guidelines.

In principle, the first place design agency will complete the integration and deepening of the results on the basis of full respect for the opinions of the  Scheme Design and Review Meeting. If the first place agency gives up the integration and deepening work, the second and third place design agencies will obtain the integration qualification in order of priority. The service contract of results integration and deepening is signed separately.

To ensure the practicality and effective implementation of the integration and deepening results, the Host has the right to invite the design agencies in Henan Province to support and cooperate with the design agency that has undertaken the integration and deepening of the results to complete the work. The cost of the work of the design agency in Henan Province will be calculated separately.

-Registration requirements

(1)There are no qualification requirements for this international competition, and both domestic and foreign design agencies can apply for the competition. But individuals or combinations of individuals will not be accepted.

(2) Consortium registration is encouraged, and the Consortium members shall not exceed 3, and the lead agency and respective responsibilities of the Consortium shall be clearly defined in the Consortium agreement. Each party of the Consortium shall not participate in the international competition on its own behalf or form a Consortium with another design agency.

(3)Design agency, either from home or abroad, must be independent legal entities with legally registered and effective business licenses. For two or more legal entities that have one same legal representative, their parent companies, wholly owned subsidiaries and holding companies are not allowed to register for the Competition at the same time.

(4)Design agency with experience in urban design for airport areas, city center areas, waterfront public spaces and other similar projects will be given prioritized consideration.

(5) The chief designer who is responsible for the main design work of the project should participate in the reporting meeting of important nodes. If the chief designer is found to be different from the team members submitted in the pre-qualification materials during the competition, the Host has the right to cancel its qualification for the shortlisting and competition.

Competition Awards

-Awards

The First Prize (1 winner): RMB 5.7 million.

The Second Prize (1 winner): RMB 3.6 million.

The Third Prize (1 winner): RMB 2.5 million.

The Fourth and Fifth Prizes (2 winners): RMB 1.8 million.

In principle, the design agency that won first place should complete the integration and deepening of the results. The total cost of results integration and deepening is 2 million yuan.

-Payment terms

The payment procedures of the awards will commence after the public display of the international competition (without objection). For design agencies that participate as a consortium and win an award, the award money will be paid to the account designated by the consortium. The payment will be made in RMB, and any taxes incurred therefrom will be on the accounts of the design agencies.

Design agencies should provide materials required for payment, such as legitimate Chinese VAT invoice, and render supports as may be necessary for the settlement procedures.

Offshore design agencies that are not able to collect the payment in RMB via its own account may authorize a legitimate independent legal entity from the Chinese Mainland to collect the payment and issue invoice on its behalf.

Schedule

Pre-qualification Stage:

Release the official announcement- July 28, 2023

Design Agency fills in the Registration Form and the Confidentiality Commitment- August 20, 2023

Design Agency submits the registration materials- September 5, 2023

Pre-qualification Review Meeting- September 13, 2023

Announcement of the pre-qualification results- September 15, 2023

Shortlisted design agencies submit the Participation Confirmation Letter- September 22, 2023

Scheme Design and Review Stage:

Site visit and Q&A; release the Design Brief- September 26, 2023

Submit design deliverables- November 26, 2023

Scheme Design Review Meeting- November 30, 2023

Announcement of the review results- December 4, 2023

Results Integration and Deepening Stage:

Results integration and deepening-Late December, 2023

Note: The above time is based on Beijing time, the Host reserves the right to adjust the schedule.

Registration

The design agency completes the Registration Form and the Confidentiality Commitment and sends them to the email: [email protected] by August 20, 2023.

File Download

1.Competition Documents

2.Design Brief for the Pre-qualification Stage

3.Pre-qualification application file format

Please visit the official website of Henan Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone International Competition: https://www.zaezcompetition.com/  to download the relevant documents.

Organizers

Host: Administrative Committee of Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone

Coordinator: Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone

Organizer: Zhengzhou Airport Science and Education Park Development Co., Ltd.

Planner& Constitutor：Who When Group (Shenzhen Beiguo Culture Development Co., Ltd.)

Technical Team：China Academy of Urban Planning and Design

Contact Us

Business: Mr. Fang , telephone(+86)15218749830

Technique: Mr. Zhu, telephone (+86)15923378200

Inquiry Email: [email protected]

Working time: 9:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00 (Beijing Time), Monday to Friday