Navigating the future of the aviation sector requires architects and designers to walk a complex path, often contending with opposing drivers to create outcomes that go on to define a city’s first impression.
In this series, Woods Bagot’s aviation experts delve into the history, motivation and challenges of select aviation debates – sharing how these tensions will shape airport design into the future.
Here, Principal Ian Lomas discusses defining the role of the modern airport as a destination or a flow manager.
Ian Lomas at Woods Bagot San Francisco studio.
Be honest: Do we really want to spend more time at the airport? Or do we just want to get to and from our destinations as quickly as possible?
For the vast majority of people, knowing that they will have a completely predicable – and fast – journey from door to seat would be the ultimate choice. Unfortunately, air travel is inherently unpredictable, with factors like the weather making guarantees impossible. With these inevitabilities in mind, should an airport be a vessel for an unencumbered journey or an experience in its own right?
This was the debate that heated the halls of the Messe Frankfurt at this years’ Passenger Terminal Expo. Though the event covered everything from AI to solutions for lost luggage, it was the opposing priorities of speed and leisure that had architects, airport operators, airline services, and airlines weighing in with force.
At the heart of this discussion is the task of defining the role of the modern airport: Is it a flow manager or a destination?
San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Terminal.
Qantas Premium Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport.
On one side of the debate, it’s all about speed. Certain passengers define the navigation of the journey from home to aircraft – contending with public transport, traffic delays, airport queuing, security, boarding and the chance of delayed take off – as a race to minimize stress. Firmly on the side of efficiency are airlines themselves, who want their planes in the air making money and not delayed on the ground. For these parties an airport’s role is simple: to facilitate a fast and efficient journey through the various stages of travel.
On the other side of the debate lies prioritising leisure and lifestyle. Airports, and the retail, entertainment and hospitality offerings turning a profit within them, want passengers to slow down, relax and consume. Many travellers embrace the idea that the adventure starts at the airport; airport lounges are growing in popularity, Michelin-starred chefs are setting up gourmet experiences in terminals, and additional entertainment experiences like cinemas, pools and virtual-reality gaming options are supposedly in demand1[i] Oliver Wyman: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/07/discover-the-5-trends-shaping-the-next-generation-of-airports/..
To me, the best stance in this debate is this: Prioritise giving people the speed they want and the beautiful, functional, and comfortable environment they’ll enjoy.
Changi Airport Butterfly Garden
“Prioritise giving people the speed they want and the beautiful, functional, and comfortable environment they’ll enjoy.”
Environment should be driven by location. Just like beauty, function and comfort are subjective to context. It comes down to the industry, specifically the collaboration between airport designers and owners, to create airport environments that suit the places they stand and the users they service.
Just like there are different types of travellers, there are also different types of airports. Airports like Singapore, Atlanta, Amsterdam and Quatar act more like hubs – serving as catchment areas for people on layovers who often have time to kill. In these cases, it makes sense for these environments to be more focussed on leisure, providing people with quality experiences that entertain, interest and satisfy.
On the other hand, airports like NYC’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, London’s Heathrow and Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport are more gateways to their city. In reflection, these airports should consider offerings that reflect their as ‘city gateway’ – prioritising experiences that elevate efficiency, seamlessness and, ultimately, speed.
Recognising these distinctions allows a more nuanced understanding of the debate, positioning us to better understand the role of environment in airport design.
Neil Hill, Principal and Transport Sector Leader (Australia)
As a Director and Design Leader with over 30 years of global experience, Ian has made an impression on the architectural landscape of Sydney. Previous to joining Woods Bagot, his experience included the design of a competition-winning commercial tower and transit hall at Wynyard Station as well as The Sandstone, which entailed the transformation of two historic buildings into a luxury hotel. Internationally, his experience included playing a key role in the reconstruction of the German Federal Parliament’s Reichstag Building in Berlin, the reinstatement of the City of London’s new Headquarters for Schroder’s Bank that involved integrating a Roman wall and Saxon ruins into the project, and a series of major retail projects throughout Harrods’ flagship store in London.
Drawn to landmark projects regardless of scale that highlight collaboration with local craftspeople, Ian often challenges himself in sectors in which he has not previously worked, giving way to a multifaceted portfolio spanning workplace, retail, residential, leisure and master planning projects in both Europe and Australia.
Contact Tess Dolan, Insights & Communications Leader – Global for media enquiries
Tess is Woods Bagot’s Global Insights Leader. Passionate about clarity, relevance and the creation of genuinely interesting content, Tess works with our innovators to create insights on the future of design, as applied to its impact on how we live, work, travel, play, learn, stay healthy and anything in-between. See Woods Bagot’s Journal for more.
Sydney, Australia