Today, an increasing number of airports are being modernized, ensuring passenger comfort and supporting the country’s economy, ultimately making them greater than only a transport hub.
Therefore, travelers can appreciate the individuality of every airport’s design and architecture, which may provide them with stunning views until a few of them are voted essentially the most beautiful airports on this planet.
Curbed.com has rounded up the 13 most beautiful airports currently operating around the globe. From Denver to Mumbai to Osaka, this architecture has risen to recent heights.
International Airport Heydar Aliyev
Terminal of the international airport Heydar Aliyev, situated within the capital of Azerbaijan, consists of giant wood cocoons designed by the Turkish architectural studio Autoban.
Light enters through concave exterior glass partitions, and every cocoon houses cafés, bars, shops and amenities similar to a kid’s playground. Diamond patterns on the atrium floors mimic the wood shingles of the cocoon. The airport can handle over 5 million passengers annually.
Denver International Airport
The architecture of U.S. airports often leaves much to be desired, but Denver’s fabric-covered tents are a highlight in a sea of boring designs. Designed by Fentress Architects to mimic Colorado’s snow-capped Rocky Mountains, the tents look striking at any time of day, but their soft glow at sunrise and sunset is very fascinating.
Recent construction features a recent Westin hotel on the airport, and travelers can now take the train directly from the airport to downtown Denver.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
Located just 12 kilometers from the middle of the Spanish capital, Barajas Airport was modernized in 2006 with an expansion designed by architect Richard Rogers that doubled the scale of the airport.
The structure’s unusual wave-shaped roof is supported by central “trees” that punctuate the roof, providing natural light throughout the upper level of the terminal. The shiny reds and yellows are a welcome departure from the usual grays and whites utilized in most airport color schemes, while the roof also provides much-needed shade to combat the recent summers in Madrid.
Kansai International Airport
Opened in 1994 to alleviate overcrowding at Osaka International Airport, Kansai International Airport was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Built on a synthetic island in Osack Bay, it’s the primary “ocean” airport on this planet and may handle 100,000 passengers a day.
The exceptionally long terminal – the longest on this planet on the time of its construction – stretches for 1.7 km and has 42 entry gates and a big, curved aerofoil roof. The structure was specially designed to resist Japan’s frequent earthquakes, and just 4 months after opening, the airport survived the magnitude 6.9 Kobe earthquake with minimal damage.
Beijing International Airport
Terminal 3 of Beijing International Airport, two miles long, is certainly one of the biggest buildings on this planet. Opening just in time for the 2008 Olympic Games, the structure encompasses a striking design – created by architects Foster + Partners – that uses traditional Chinese colours of red and yellow and a dragon-like form to rejoice Chinese history and culture.
The terminal constructing and transportation center cover a complete area of 1.3 million square meters and are designed to serve 50 million passengers annually by 2020.
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Mumbai’s recent Terminal 2 constructing opened in 2014 to accommodate the growing influx of tourists to town. The gigantic cover refers in form to native Indian pavilions and is the central element of the design.
In total, 30 mushroom-shaped columns connect with the cover, their patterns partly inspired by India’s national bird, the peacock. SOM also tried to respect the traditions of local culture – curbside drop-off zones are “designed for giant groups of well-wishers accompanying [to] adapt to traditional Indian arrival and departure ceremonies.”
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
One of the biggest airports in Asia, Kuala Lumpur Airport, designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, features an Islamic-style shading roof anchored by massive columns. The roof also resembles a standard tree within the Malaysian rainforest, and the lights in the cover represent the filtered sun shining through the leaves.
Kurokawa’s “airport within the forest” project shows how modern design – the shell-like roof is fabricated from elegant chrome steel – and cultural traditions can mix. There are also plenty of prayer rooms throughout the airport.
Marrakech Menara Airport
Menara Airport in Marrakech, Morocco was accomplished in 2008. Designed by Swiss studio E2A Architecture, the constructing features stylized Islamic decorations and a powerful façade. The project is meant to be an example of the usage of traditional patterns in a recent constructing.
Kutaisi International Airport
Kutaisi International Airport, also referred to as Kutaisi International Airport, is a small airport situated in Kutaisi, Georgia.
The constructing, designed by Dutch architecture firm UNStudio, features shiny red colours that make it easier for passengers to navigate the airport.
The constructing also has large windows, making a light-filled interior with a view of the Caucasus.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is situated in Bao’an District, Shenzhen, China.
Designed by Roman architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, the airport’s Terminal 3 constructing is exclusive since it looks like a manta ray from above.
Pulkovo International Airport
Designed by London-based architecture firm Grimshaw Architects, Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, was accomplished in 2014 and is anticipated to handle roughly 12 million passengers annually.
The constructing has a big flat roof that may withstand heavy snowfall.
Queen Alia International Airport
Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, features concrete domes designed by Foster+Partners. The domes are said to be inspired by Bedoui tents, with their bottoms embossed just like the surface of a leaf. The brown and cream colours match the encircling desert.
Changi airport
Often considered among the best airports on this planet, Singapore’s Changi Airport is certainly one of the biggest hubs in Southeast Asia. Its original terminals – Terminal 1 and a couple of – have a comparatively utilitarian appearance, but 2008’s Terminal 3 is far more unique. Built to handle growing traffic, Terminal 3 is a steel and glass structure with a 9-acre roof designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
SOM created an overhead light modulation system using glass skylights and 1000’s of aluminum louvres. Sensors limit the quantity of direct sunlight throughout the day, and at night artificial light is reflected from the blinds, ensuring even lighting. Terminal 3 also features a living “Green Wall” and a butterfly garden.
New Terminal 4, designed by Benoyopened in 2017.
Source: The Jakarta Post, Curbed.com
