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BIG plans artificial intelligence-run city campus in China

Danish architecture studio BIG has designed Terminus AI City Operating System as a campus in Chongqing, China, that will be operated by an artificial intelligence system.

BIG has drawn up the plans for smart service specialists Terminus Group, which will have its headquarters at the centre of the artificial intelligence-run city campus.

Green roods of AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Terminus AI City Operating System will be located in Chongqing

Called Terminus AI City Operating System, or TACOS, everything in the city from the fire service to personal butlers would be operated by this AI.

The development will be located in Chongqing Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone and will include Cloud Valley, a campus-style headquarters for Terminus Group.

Green roofs of AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
The Cloud Valley campus will have green roofs

We have over the recent years worked with several of the world’s leading technology companies. We are thrilled to bring our experience to Chongqing," said Ingels.

"Cloud Valley is envisioned as a city where people, technology and nature thrive together – with spaces designed for all types of life: human life, plant life, animal life and even artificial life."

BIG's design for Cloud Valley is intended to demonstrate the environmental goals of the project. Swooping green roof panels will part to create open-air courtyards throughout the campus.

Green roofs of AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Courtyards between the roofs will be open to the sky

These courtyards will host art exhibitions and sporting events, said BIG. A video fly-through depicts robotic performers entertaining crowds in these courtyards as humans and technology live and work together harmoniously.

At night, the underside of the roof will transform into what BIG described as "the largest digital display in China".

Robot entertainers in AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Arts performances will be put on in the courtyards

In AI City, people will live in homes with automatically adjusting solar panels and have a digital assistant to run their lives. Buildings will have power systems controlled by Terminus Group software.

"As sunlight hits the houses, bedroom windows adjust their opacity to allow the natural light to wake sleepy residents," said Terminus Group.

"Once the light has filled the room, an AI virtual housekeeper named Titan selects your breakfast, matches your outfit with the weather, and presents a full schedule of your day using Terminus Group's smart transportation solution," added the technology company

"After breakfast, you step into your intelligent, fully-automated vehicle, and begin your intercity commute browsing global market news – recommended by an algorithm, of course!"

Robots in renders for AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Terminus Group specialises in AI and robotics

TACOS will collect and distribute data recorded by the Internet of Things-enabled devices.

This data would be used to inform various aspects of city planning, including security systems and tourist areas. As more data is collected and analysed by the AI, the city will be continuously "upgraded".

BIG included the overhanging roofs to shelter the buildings from the elements so that they will be able to be more open at the sides. Exterior lifts will transport people from the outdoor courtyards on the ground floor to upper floors.

Digital display in AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
At night the underside of the roof will become a digital display

As part of its sustainability plans, AI City will have e-bikes and self-driving cars to cut down on traffic jams.

BIG has recently master-planned a series of artificial islands in Malaysia that will be constructed from bamboo and concrete made using recycled materials.

Terminus Group designed Opti, the robot mascot of the Dubai 2020 Expo, which has been postponed to next year due to the coronavirus.


Product credits:

Client: Terminus Group
Partners-in-charge: Bjarke Ingels, Jakob Lange, Ole Elkjær Larsen
Project leaders: Per Bo Madsen, Nanna Gyldeholm Møller, Dominic James Black, Gabrielle Nadeau, Dora Jiabao Lin, Enea Michelesio
Team: Biqin Li, Yara Rahme, Natchaluck Radomsittipat, Ipek Akin, Linnea Lujak, Laura Wätte, Peter Mortensen, Sergiu Calacean, Mattia Di Carlo, Høgni Laksafoss, Jan Magasanik, Eddie Can, Annette Jensen, Mussa Algasra, Marcela Dominika Rydalska, Laurent De Carniere, Cheng-Huang Lin, Nandi Lu, Henrik Jacobsen, Seda Yildiz, Lucas Coelho Netto, Marah Wagner, Vladislav Saprunenko, Jean-Sébastien Pagnon, Dimitrie Grigorescu, Alexander Matthias Jacobson, Kamila Abbiazova, Katrine Juul, Ella Murphy, Tore Banke, Cristian Teodor Fratila, Frederic Lucien Engasser, Ulla Hornsyld, Paul Johann Kohlhaussen, Eric Li, Erik Kreider, Karolina Lepa-Stewart, Tristan Harvey, Miles Treacy, Timo Harboe Nielsen, Andy Coward, Qingfeng Li, Milan Moldenhawer, Mamak Mazaheri, Daniel Ferrara Bilesky, Jesper Petersen
LDI: Huiting
Green building consultant: CMCU
Facade consultant: Forster
Structure consultant: BIG E

More images

Night display of AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Green roods of AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Night display in AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Outside AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Courtyard in AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Robots in renders for AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Robots in renders for AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Courtyard enders for AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group
Renders for AI City and Cloud Valley campus designed by BIG for Terminus Group