Airport Architecture: From Aesthetics to Functionality

DALLAS — Air terminals have evolved from functional edifices into true architectural marvels. Today's transport hubs from around the globe and their contemporary projects are built from diverse materials and have unconventional forms employed in their construction.

While most of us prefer to avoid spending an excessive amount of time in an airport, the time spent there should be enjoyable and comfortable, and modern airport facilities cater to this need.

When designing airports, architects must therefore balance efficiency and aesthetics in their design, as demonstrated by some of the world's most renowned architects, such as Zaha Hadid.

The Terminal that Brought Aesthetics to Airport Design

While working on the plans for the first airport designed for the jet age, Dulles International Airport (IAD), Eero Saarinen and Associates were tasked to begin the design of the TWA Flight Center for Trans World Airlines in 1956. The terminal would change airport design from a functional aspect of air transport to the excitement of air travel.

It was constructed between 1959 and 1962 and functioned as an air terminal until 2001. It is characterized by a thin shell roof that is structured like a wing and is supported by four Y-shaped piers. Originally, a three-story open space with towering windows provided a view of jets departing and arriving.

The architect's design of the TWA Flight Center's head house is a groundbreaking example of thin-shell construction. The roof is composed of a reinforced concrete shell that is sustained at the corners. Elements of the Futurist, Neo-futurist, Googie, and Fantastic architectural styles are incorporated into the design.

Today’s airports have jaw-dropping designs and are breaking world records, from the world’s biggest terminal in Istanbul to the largest indoor waterfall at Changi airport.

More than 100 airports serving at least 10 million passengers each year is a huge challenge for architects whose task is to design spaces that are more secure and functional for transporting such an influx of crowds in a fluid and spatially coherent way.

Here are a few airports that showcase some of the best architecture in the world of air transport and airport design.

Denver International Airport, United States

An innovative airport design for the American city of Denver; the tensile roof canopy of Denver Airport (DEN) symbolizes the majestic, well-known snow-capped rock mountains in the surrounding area.

In designing the terminal, Fentress Architects flipped traditional airport architecture by "turning the building upside down," that is moving the airport's mechanical infrastruture from the roof to underground.

Utilizing 300 days of sunshine per year and reflecting 90% of solar radiation, the roof material significantly minimizes the need for artificial lighting while lowering solar heat gain.

This fiberglass fabric covers more than 23,200 square meters. This material allows natural light to illuminate the interior during the day while at night it runs on energy collected through its vast fields of solar panels.

Istanbul International Airport, Istambul

The vaulted ceiling design of the Istanbul International Airport (IST) gives a strong impression of directionality from airside to landside in intuitive wayfinding thus enhancing the passenger experience.

A massive airport in its final phase by the year 2025, is estimated to handle up to 200 million passengers becoming the biggest airport worldwide under a single roof in terms of passenger traffic.

The architects behind the concept design were Grimshaw Architects, Nordic Office of Architecture and Haptic Architects. The lead delivery architect was Scott Brownrigg, also in charge of the interior concept design with IGA Design.

Indira Gandhi International Airport, India

Located in Delhi, this is one of the busiest airports in India. Inside Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), you can appreciate an incredible installation formed by copper plates with giant palms that emulate gestures of traditional Indian dances and yoga.

L&B led the Master Plan Update for the airport, the primary civil aviation hub for the National Capital Region of India and the busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic.

Wellington International Airport, New Zealand

An interesting entry when it comes to airport architecture, the angular lines of Wellington International Airport's (WLG) terminal create a visual connection with the rocks along the coast and were inspired by the surroundings of the Airport. The use of fissures and strata as well as references to local landforms have helped to clarify the design's form, scale, and massing.

To increase capacity to meet demand and get WLG ready for future growth, Warren and Mahoney (together with Studio Pacific Architecture) completed a lengthy five-year, two-stage refurbishment of the international terminal.

The airport can now handle up to 1,000 passengers per hour thanks to Stage Two, The Rock, a brand-new extension that more than doubled the space in the departure lounge. The design of this airport sought to create a more intimate and comfortable atmosphere, so it was decided to reduce the amplitude.

Madrid-Barajas International Airport, Spain

Madrid's Barajas Airport (MAD), by Richard Rogers Partnership in collaboration with Estudio Lamela, features a kilometre-long undulating steel roof, shaped in cross-section to resemble a bird in flight.

Light-filled canyons that are part of the airport's structural system give the lowest levels of the building natural lighting. By lowering energy usage and maintenance costs, this airport design supports environmental sustainability. Between the canyons, passengers move vertically to show the order of procedures they must follow to comply with airport formalities.

The terminal structure of MAD was intended to divide the circulation into three linear modules, and it performs various tasks depending on the volume of passengers arriving and departing.

Because of its warmth and sustainability, bamboo was the material chosen to dress the interior of one of the most important airports in Europe.

Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates

Paul Andreu is the famed French architect behind Abu Dhabi airport (AUH). This airport exudes a futuristic environment with nods to local culture, and luxury is the order of the day.

The new Midfield Terminal Complex can handle up to 80 million passengers annually to fulfill the needs of the quickly growing Middle Eastern metropolis, dominating a crucial position in the worldwide race for quickly expanding luxury air travel and transfer points.

The Terminal Building, designed as a gateway to Abu Dhabi, is elevated above street level, giving the impression that it is perched on a plateau all by itself. With its dynamic profile silhouetted against the sky, the skyscraper stands out as the most spectacular and imposing object on the horizon in this situation.

The building's interior illumination will be visible from the roadway more than 1,500 meters away at night.

Hamad International Airport, Qatar

The architecture firm HOK designed the terminal and concourses of Hamad International Airport's (DOH), whose design pays homage to the city's rich cultural legacy while also reflecting Qatar's steady growth by evoking the sense of ocean waves and sand dunes with its spectacular roof canopy's flowing lines.

To contrast the desert elements, the walls of this airport were covered with solar reflective material and special glass to control the intense heat.

The unobstructed views enable passengers to easily find their destinations with a clear vision of spatial functions and circulation within the large complex.

Beijing Daxing International Airport, China

Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), also known as Beijing New Airport, is the biggest airport in the world. Zaha Hadid Architects, led by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, designed the terminal building for PKX.

The airport’s design is pioneering while its location in the Daxing District (the southern suburbs of Beijing) is ideal to serve the Chinese capital and the neighboring areas of Hebei and Tianjin. 

Six flowing forms of the building, which were inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, are gathered in the terminal's central courtyard, and a network of linear skylights running through its center guides all passengers through an easy-to-use navigation system.

Passengers can traverse short distances within the airport without the use of an automated transportation system according to the concept of compact airport architecture. By 2025, it is anticipated that the airport would handle 100 million passengers and 4 million tons of cargo yearly.

Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore

Jewel Changi Airport (SIN) in Singapore was designed by the architect Moshie Safdie, who is frequently credited with creating the best airport designs in the world. Jewel Changi is one of Southeast Asia's major transportation hubs.

Terminal 3 (change airport) was built to handle the growing demand for air travel. The mix of the two settings—a marketplace and a paradise garden—creates a community-centric typology of heart and soul, which adds to its uniqueness.

The largest indoor waterfall "rain vortex" in the world is housed in the center of the building, which also has a forest valley garden with over 200 different types of flora and fauna that has grown into a treasure in and of itself.

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport – Terminal 2, India

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai, India, was designed by The architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).

The airport has handled over 16.3 million passengers yearly since 2020, as per the CSMIA. Of the 19.8 million passengers, the airport catered to approximately 17.4 million domestic passengers across 1,40,000 flights and over 2.43 million international passengers across 17,290 flights.

With the number of domestic and international traffic increasing, airport designs have evolved to accommodate the intricate network of travelers and aircraft, overcoming the numerous delays that have played havoc with the entire operation.

The airport stands out among the contemporary to a more traditional view since it was inspired by the traditional Indian Pavilions and peacock feathers. To satisfy the Indian tradition of welcoming visitors, gracious drop-off areas are created for huge groups of well-wishers.

That wraps up our top 10 airport design list. If you think we missed other airports with amazing architecture, please let us know in the comments on our social media channels.

LaGuardia Airport

The US$8 billion investment to transform LaGuardia Airport (LGA) elevated customer experience and garned nation-wide recognition. The HOK and WSP Design Joint Venture was the architect for LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B. The design-build joint venture was Skanska Walsh.

In 2021, LaGuardia’s Terminal B won UNESCO’s Prix Versailles, the global architecture and design award, for best new airport in the world.

Terminal B’s dual skybridges overlook an active aircraft taxiway, makes LGA the first airport in the world to have such an amenity. Delta Air Lines' brand-new Terminal C opened to passengers in June of 2022. It's nearly double the size of the two terminals that it replaced.

By merging 37 entrances into a single, expansive facility featuring a single Arrivals and Departures Hall with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, 21st-century technology, and locally inspired concessions, the terminal provides passengers with high-quality dining options in a world-class setting.

New Terminals in the Making

On October 1, 2024, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) marked a significant milestone with the topping-off of the final Terminal 6 steel beam.

The new T6 is set to offer world-class passenger amenities, expanded taxiway and gate capacity, state-of-the-art security, and streamlined roadway access.

JFK Millennium Partners invited Airways to tour the T6 construction site and later participate in the celebration of the final steel beam topping-off ceremony.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) announced in February 2024 that it intends to enhance the air conditioning system at the airport by implementing infrastructure upgrades at its central utility plant in Terminal 4.

The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden, included an FAA Airport Terminal Program grant of US$36 million to fund the endeavor at PHX.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego declared on April 29, 2024, that a new terminal would be built on the western end of the property, in close proximity to the former Terminal 2 location.

She stated that the airport received over 48 million passengers in 2023 and that the new terminal was necessary to meet the increasing demand and facilitate the growing number of travelers. She also anticipated that the airport would continue to expand.

The terminal would be environmentally favorable due to its design, which includes a new customs facility and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.