Group Project Beijing Air Remediation Center

As cities in Asia and Africa begin to expand, and as the Environmental Protection Agency repeals air pollution regulations in the U.S., air pollution is a significant concern for many global cities. Delhi, India, recently started to invest in huge water cannons to spray water in the air in hopes of reducing harmful air particulates in the air. However, such systems often tend to be temporary and air pollution is often forgotten once the worst is past. Beijing Air Remediation Centre is thought of as a hybrid of infrastructure and architecture, creating spaces for the public, while purifying air via facade systems.

A key feature of the project is the aerodynamic pleated facade, designed to maximize the exterior air purification system while increasing building surface area for air purification. The fluid architectural notion expressed by the expansion and compression of pleats creates spaces for air-purification infrastructure, moments for the public realm such as concourses and great interior courts, and a reflection of traditional Beijing architecture — the siheyuan.