The First International cable car connecting China and Russia will carry the passengers across the Amur River. The River marks the borders between Eastern Russia and China.

“Cable car systems provide a new form of public transport that is sustainable, extremely fast, reliable and efficient,” said Ben van Berkel, founder of UNStudio who won the competition to design the world’s first cross border cable car.

Throughout the years, Amur River has been a natural boundary that connects between Heihe in China and Blagoveshchensk in Russia. Certainly, the River supported relations between the two cities, especially when frozen and forming thick ice. Particularly, by creating an open way for social and commercial connections.

The the historical connection between the two cities that almost started in the mid-19^th century inspired the winning UNStudio’s design. The building will become a modern engine that recreates all the connections between Heihe and Blagoveshchensk.
Travelers will take around 7 minutes between the two cities.

Welcome Space

UNStudio will create a welcoming space for travelers while creating a natural viewing Platform overlooking the Amur River. Thus passengers will move in an open directed circulation from the departure platform to the arrival. That will allow them to have easy access to the platforms and enjoy the cultural and commercial spaces created.

The exterior will be affected by the internal circulation as well.

Respecting the context

The Blagoveshchensk terminal will make a direct connection between the city and the river. That will form new spaces for cultural and gathering events.
The building’s design will allow creating public roof terraces and green spaces on the riverside of the building. These green roofs will easily blend with the proposed park between the terminal and the River.

“This context provided rich inspiration for the Blagoveshchensk terminal station, which not only responds to its immediate urban location. But also becomes an expression of cultural identity and a podium for the intermingling of cultures,” said Van Berkel.