01 November 2011

DESIGNS have been unveiled for an ambitious project to expand Kuwait International Airport in order to establish it as the new regional air hub in the Gulf.

Targeting Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ‘gold’ rating, the airport aims to be the first passenger terminal in the world to attain this level of environmental accreditation. The concrete structure provides thermal mass and the roof incorporates a large expanse of photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy.

Designer Foster + Partners has devised  a flexible masterplan for the site, with the terminal strategically located to anticipate and enable future expansion. The airport will initially accommodate 13 million passengers per year, with the scope to increase to 25 million, and with further development to accommodate 50 million passengers.

The state-of-the-art terminal building will provide high levels of comfort for passengers and will set a new environmental benchmark for airport buildings. Its design is in sync with the hot climate and inspired by local forms and materials.

The terminal has a trefoil plan, comprising three symmetrical wings of departure gates. Each façade spans 1.2 km and all extend from a dramatic 25-m-high central space. The terminal balances the enclosure of this vast area with a design that is highly legible at a human scale – for simplicity and ease of use there are few level changes, according to Foster + Partners.

To further aid orientation, the building is planned under a single roof canopy, punctuated by glazed openings that filter daylight, while deflecting direct solar radiation. The canopy extends to shade a generous entrance plaza and is supported by tapering concrete columns – their fluid, organic forms draw inspiration from the contrast between the solidity of the stone and the shape and movement of Kuwait’s traditional dhow sailing boats.

The layout of the apron is generated by aviation forecasts and is highly adaptable, with 35 flexible contact stands in its first phase. The design establishes an elegant and memorable arrival sequence for passengers, which includes a baggage reclaim area surrounded by cooling cascades of water. It also features a grand new landside access sequence from the south, close to the building, where the landscaping is a lush oasis, with strands of drier planting and species native to the desert climate extending further away from the terminal.

Inside, the different functions are arranged over three floors: departures, arrivals and baggage areas.

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