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.
Ian Lomas, Director and Los Angeles Studio Chair
With over 30 years’ experience as an architect, Ian has undertaken a broad array of projects – from private residences and urban regeneration schemes to landmark heritage buildings and office towers – in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Based in Los Angeles, he has played a pivotal role in major aviation projects, notably the transformation of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), including the innovative Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) South. His diverse portfolio spans various sectors, including workplace, retail, and mixed-use developments. Lomas is committed to diversity and inclusion, actively participating in the Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and also hosted lectures at Yale and UCL, inspiring the next generation of architects.
Ian’s diverse portfolio spans urban regeneration, bespoke interiors, and luxury spaces, allowing him to address architecture holistically. His design philosophy, centered on collaboration and people-focused solutions, embraces the mantra “one size fits no one,” guiding his work to create impactful, tailored spaces worldwide.
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.
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