Architecture studio Kohn Pedersen Fox has completed a terminal at Zayed International Airport in the UAE with an undulating roof informed by sand dunes and geometric patterns.
Formerly known as Abu Dhabi International, the airport's new terminal by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) was designed as a "civic landmark" for the region and to double capacity to 45 million passengers.
Zayed International Airport features a glass facade and undulating roof
"From the outset, our goal was for the airport to serve the emirate and represent the city of Abu Dhabi, with a design that referenced its cultural and natural environment," said KPF design principal Mustafa Chehabeddine.
"We established a design language for continuity and flow throughout the project, developing a set of guidelines that ensured each element of the terminal, from the check-in desks to the lighting chandeliers, felt as though it belonged in the building." The new terminal doubles the airport's annual capacity to 45 million passengers
In order to minimise the impact of the desert sun, the undulating roof form was draped over the facade ? reducing the amount of glazing needed as well as eliminating the need for external shading devices.
Inside, a 50-metre-high departure hall decorated with a mosaic stone flooring was housed under a single roof spanning 180-metres, supported by arches to create a largely column-free interior space.
The terminal is arranged into four themed piers
Organised with a...