Located just outside the capital, the Queen Alia International Airport is the largest airport in the country and the modular design of the terminal will allow the airport to further expand each year, increasing passenger capacity from 3.5 million annually to 12 million by 2030.

The tessellated concrete roof canopy spans the entire terminal. There are glazed elevations on each side of the building to help passenger orientation, so the roof overhangs the facade to shade the interior from intense sunlight.

Foster + Partners borrowed additional motifs from traditional Islamic architecture to generate shapes used throughout the building. The underside of each dome is embossed to resemble the surface of a leaf, while the supporting grid of concrete columns feature split ends designed to look like plant stems. In the gaps between, droplet-shaped skylights allow light to filter through each space.

The concrete used displays soft brown tones intended to match the shades of the surrounding desert, which the architects created by mixed the material with local gravel. The high thermal mass of the concrete will also help to maintain a stead internal climate during the severe changes in temperature that take place during the summer.

Departure gates are divided into two wings and open out to courtyards filled with trees and plants, expected to improve the air quality.

"Queen Alia International Airport has been an extraordinary project," commented Foster + Partners' chief executive Mouzhan Majidi. "It has transformed Amman into a niche hub, while offering critical growth for the wider economy through regional links. The new terminal building is energy efficient, will accommodate phased expansion and provides a dynamic symbol for Jordan."

London firm Foster + Partners have worked on a number of airports and other transport projects over the years. The office famously designed Beijing's Capital Airport and was responsible for London's Stansted airport and Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong.

In 2011 Foster + Partners also completed the world’s first tourist space terminal in New Mexico. See more architecture by Foster + Partners.

Photography is by Nigel Young.

Here's some more information from Foster + Partners:

Official opening of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan

Today marked the official opening of Queen Alia International Airport, the spectacular new gateway to Amman. The airport has a highly efficient passive design, which has been inspired by local traditions, and is based on a flexible modular solution that allows for future expansion – the new building secures the city's position as the main hub for the Levant region and allows the airport to grow by 6 per cent per annum for the next twenty-five years, increasing capacity from 3.5 million to 12 million passengers per annum by 2030.

In response to Amman's climate, where summer temperatures vary markedly between day and night time, the building is constructed largely from concrete, the high thermal mass of the material providing passive environmental control. The tessellated roof canopy comprises a series of shallow concrete domes, which extend to shade the facades – each dome provided a modular unit for construction. The domes branch out from the supporting columns like the leaves of a desert palm and daylight floods the concourse through split beams at the column junctions. Echoing the veins of a leaf, a geometric pattern based on traditional Islamic forms is applied to each exposed soffit. The complex geometry of the roof shells and fabrication strategy was developed in conjunction with Foster + Partners in-house geometry specialists.

Two piers of departure gates run along either side of the central building, which contains the main processing areas and shops, lounges and restaurants. Between these volumes, open-air courtyards – a feature of vernacular architecture in the region – contribute to the terminal's environmental strategy: the plants and trees help to filter pollution and pre-condition the air before it is drawn into the air handling system and reflecting pools bounce indirect natural light into the airport.

The terminal is glazed on all sides to allow views of the aircraft on the apron and to aid orientation. Horizontal louvres shade the facades from direct sunlight – to eliminate glare, the louvres become concentrated in more exposed areas close to the columns. The concrete structure incorporates local gravel to reduce maintenance requirements and the embodied energy of the material, and to harmonise with the natural shades of local sand.

Amman is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world – the airport's design resonates with a sense of place and local architecture, particularly in the domed roof, which from the air echoes the black flowing fabric of a Bedouin tent. There are also references to the Jordanian tradition of hospitality – in celebration of the custom for family groups to congregate at the airport, the forecourt has been enlarged to create a landscaped plaza with seating, shaded by trees, where people can gather to bid farewell or welcome returning travellers.

Above: level one plan - click for larger image

Above: level two plan - click for larger image

Above: level three plan - click for larger image

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by Foster + Partners appeared first on Dezeen.

Called Airport City, OMA's 10-square-kilometre masterplan comprises four districts along a "green spine" running parallel with the airport's runways.

The spine of public spaces, gardens and plazas will connect the business and logistics districts with an aviation district and a residential area adjacent to the new Doha Bay Marina.

The first phase of the 30-year masterplan is expected to be complete by 2022, when Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup.

OMA co-founder Rem Koolhaas said: "[The project] is perhaps the first serious effort anywhere in the world to interface between an international airport and the city it serves."

The competition team was led by OMA partners Iyad Alsaka, Reinier de Graaf, Rem Koolhaas and OMA associate Katrin Betschinger in collaboration with engineering consultants WSP.

OMA recently revealed designs for a department store in Kuwait City inspired by the galleries of a traditional Arab market – see all architecture by OMA.

Dezeen filmed a series of interviews with Koolhaas during the OMA/Progress show at London's Barbican centre in 2011 and an introduction to the Garage Center for Contemporary Culture he's working on in Moscow.

Other masterplans we've reported on lately include SHoP Architects' cluster of hollow skyscrapers for New York City and a complex of residential towers in Bratislava by Zaha Hadid – see all masterplans.

Here's more information from OMA:

OMA masterplans Airport City for HIA Airport in Doha, Qatar

After winning an international competition, OMA has been announced as masterplanners for Airport City, a new 10 sq km development where 200,000 people will live and work, linking the new Hamad International Airport with the city of Doha, Qatar. OMA's masterplan is a series of four circular districts along a spine parallel to the HIA runways, intended to create a strong visual identity and districts with unique identities. Phase One of the 30-year masterplan, which links airside and landside developments for business, logistics, retail, hotels, and residences, will be mostly complete in time for the 2022 World Cup, hosted by Qatar.

Rem Koolhaas commented: "We are delighted and honored to participate in the exciting growth of Doha, in a project that is perhaps the first serious effort anywhere in the world to interface between an international airport and the city it serves."

Partner-in-charge Iyad Alsaka commented: "Doha's Airport City is an important addition to the realisation of OMA's work in urbanism and will incorporate unprecedented transport planning opportunities; we look forward to collaborating with the HIA to meet the objectives of this ambitious project."

Each district of Airport City will be unique within the masterplan's overall identity. The Business District will centre on a major new transport hub linking with greater Doha; the Aviation Campus will accommodate office headquarters and educational facilities for aviation authorities; the Logistics District will provide cargo and warehousing facilities; and the Residential District, adjacent to the new Doha Bay Marina, will accommodate future employees. A Green Spine connects the districts, echoing their individual identities as it runs north-south. The landscaping scheme, developed by Michel Desvigne, is a new public space for Doha that will be used by residents and tourists. A network of public spaces, gardens and plazas will stretch across the site, surrounded by a "Desert Park".

The competition team was led by OMA partners Iyad Alsaka, Reinier de Graaf, Rem Koolhaas and OMA Associate Katrin Betschinger in collaboration with engineering consultants, WSP. The Airport City masterplan and development of its individual elements is being led by Partner-in-charge Iyad Alsaka, Project Director Slavis Poczebutas and Associate Katrin Betschinger. Before the 2022 World Cup, Airport City infrastructure and utilities will be completed along with the Western Taxiway and Aircraft Parking System adjacent to the HIA 2nd runway, the HIA Visa Building, and the visual concept planning of the future transport hub.

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Airport City in Qatar appeared first on Dezeen.

The architects designed the building as a gateway to the British overseas territory, as it is the first structure that visitors will see when arriving by plane, car or on foot.

Fully glazed elevations were added to take advantage of the views in every direction. To the west and east, passengers can look out over the Mediterranean Sea, while the landmark Rock of Gibraltar flanks the building from the south.

The roof overhangs each side of the building, creating a canopy that shades the windows from direct sunlight. An integrated cleaning system also rinses the facades periodically to keep the glass free from corrosive sand particles.

The interior of the terminal is organised over two floors, with a double-height concourse for check-ins and arrivals. The departures lounge occupies the first floor and extends out onto a balcony terrace that spans the building and branches out to the west.

"I feel that the building arrangement is particularly successful in creating a graceful and elegant and calm resolution to a very demanding brief," lead designer Daniel Bérubé told Dezeen.

He added: "There is a type of narrative that unravels in the building, culminating in the departures lounge where there is finally a full view of the striking north face of the Rock of Gibraltar. Its full breadth and setting can be further appreciated by stepping outside the departures lounge onto the airside terrace."

Another benefit of the glazed elevations is that they bring natural light through most spaces in the building. Roof lights were also added and help to aid orientation through the terminal.

Bérubé first developed the design for the airport whilst working for 3DReid, but continued working on the project after leaving to set up his own firm, Bblur Architecture, with partner Matthew Bedward.

Since launching in 2008, Bblur Architecture has also completed a bus station with an undulating aluminium canopy and collaborated with Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners on a fabric walkway on the roof of the O2 Arena in London.

Other airports to complete in recent years include Bodrum Airport in Turkey, which topped the transport category at last year's World Architecture Festival, and Carrasco International Airport in Uruguay by Rafael Viñoly. See more airport design on Dezeen.

Photography is by Hufton + Crow.

Here's some text from the design team:

New Gibraltar Airport Terminal

Gibraltar Airport's uniquely situated new terminal building is modern, dynamic, transparent and airy. Designed by bblur architecture with 3DReid and NACO, it is a world class facility which has created opportunities for flights from Spain and the rest of Europe to Gibraltar.

A unique and complex location

The new terminal is the first building visitors will see when they enter Gibraltar by air, road or on foot and is located immediately at the frontier, with the Rock as a backdrop. Sited within an extraordinary and spectacular landscape, it is bound by very tight constraints on all sides with the frontier with Spain to the North, the existing airport runway to the South, Winston Churchill Avenue to the West and tapering land with RAF restrictions to the East. The building is 2-storeys high and covers 19,600sqm.

A refined and elegant design solution

With over 20 years experience in aviation the design team approached this commission with consideration and empathy, and created an important public space both around and inside the terminal.

A large over-sailing roof, providing shade and shelter to the fully glazed walls which maximise views to the Rock and across the straits toward Africa and the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, reflects the terminal's aviation function and maritime location.

The forecourt creates a new landscaped park providing a generous welcome to Gibraltar and the airport and an identifiable 'place' at the frontier, a place to meet and greet whether on a local or extended journey.

There are double height spaces within the terminal and an extensive airside roof terrace, designed as an extension to the departures lounge. The terminal which operates over two levels with an area of 19,600sqm has a primary check in and arrivals concourse at ground floor on the West side of the terminal. The terminal was also designed to accommodate entry and exit of passengers directly at the frontier.

The airport's airside areas have also been reconfigured to provide 5 aircraft stands and a new airside facilities building.

Key design attributes

» Takes advantage of fantastic views over the airfield towards the rock

» Dramatic roof overhang and solar shading create a building which is architecturally significant and environmentally sensitive

» The use of glazing achieves transparency between the interior and exterior, allows the terminal to be predominantly naturally lit and provides extensive views out of the terminal.

» The fifth elevation (roof) very important as seen from the rock – use of roof lights which are laid out to visually guide passengers through some of the more internal routes. The roof lights generate subtle animation of the space throughout the day from throwing disks of diffused sunlight onto the floor to capturing the blue glow in the early evening.

Energy efficient

Energy efficiency has been a key consideration. The design incorporates a large roof overhang to provide a high level of solar shading which maintains a cool environment. High performance double glazing and automated roller blinds contribute to enhanced energy performance.

Certain features of the design result from the building's proximity to the sea. In addition to the need for close attention to detailing and specifications for external elements because of the corrosive marine environment, there was also concern about maintaining the appearance of the glazing, not just from salt-saturated air but also wind-borne sand and dust particles. The design solution includes a special external cleansing system that intermittently rinses the façades to eliminate accumulated material. The de-ionised water used in the system further improves the effectiveness of the rinsing process.

Buro Happold's Fire Engineering developed a holistic fire safety design that integrates a combination of passive and active fire safety measures, along with management measures to combine to give a simple but robust fire strategy for the building. This provides several benefits: offering life safety protection to the large numbers of passengers and staff using the terminal, containing fire and smoke to limited areas, and reducing operational disruption in the event of an incident.

Team definition and roles

Daniel Bérubé and Matthew Bedward led the 3DReid design team from concept to planning scheme design until they left to form bblur architecture in 2008. bblur architecture and 3DReid agreed to collaborate throughout the design development and delivery phases of the project with Daniel Bérubé leading the project as concept guardian and lead designer working with 3DReid and the contractor to deliver the Terminal and associated infrastructure. This was to ensure that Dragados S.A., the Spanish contractor who was awarded the design-build contract of the Terminal and associated infrastructure works, remained faithful to the original design intent.

During the course of the project delivery bblur architecture was also commissioned to design the interiors of the terminal, and to redesign the terminal forecourt and adjacent public realm with Spacehub. In addition to the main terminal building, bblur architecture and 3DReid have designed the Park & Ride facility, a 6 level multi-storey car park, on the opposite side of runway.

Client: Government of Gibraltar
Architect: bblur architecture and 3DReid
Engineers: Buro Happold
Main contractor: Dragados S.A.
Aviation Consultants: NACO B.V.
Landscape Consultants: Spacehub
Project Management Gibraltar Land Reclamation Company

Above: site plan - click for larger image

Above: ground floor plan - click for larger image

Above: first floor plan - click for larger image

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and 3DReid appeared first on Dezeen.

News: Zaha Hadid Architects has been appointed by the Mayor of London to help develop plans for a major new airport in the southeast of England.

Hadid's firm will work alongside UK-based engineers Atkins and Pascall+Watson, the architects who designed Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport, to prepare a submission to the UK government about the future of aviation around the capital.

"This work is essential to deliver the most integrated transport solutions for London and the UK," said Hadid. "It will enable London to maintain its position as one of the world's most important economic, commercial and cultural centres, outlining the city's future growth and development, which has always been founded on global connectivity."

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "It is absolutely imperative that work to progress a new hub airport in the southeast is completed as soon as possible. The government has set a timetable that dawdles, when dash should be the order of the day.

"That is why I have assembled a mighty team of experts who I have tasked with delivering a fulsome examination of the most realistic solutions to our aviation crisis in the shortest time possible, which I look forward to sharing with the government."

In 2011, architect Norman Foster unveiled his own proposals for an airport and transport hub on the Thames estuary, while last year architects Gensler proposed a floating airport connected by underwater tunnels for the same location – see all airports.

Earlier this week Hadid slammed the UK's "misogynist" attitude towards women architects after a survey found nearly a third knew they were paid less than their male counterparts – see all news about Zaha Hadid.

Top image shows Hadid's proposal for an extension to Zagreb Airport in Croatia.

Here's the full press release:

Mayor announces world-class team to develop hub airport plans

The Mayor of London has appointed a world-class team of experts to help develop plans for a multi runway hub airport in the southeast.
Today (11 February) the Mayor will also give oral evidence to an aviation inquiry convened by the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee. Committee members are expected to ask him why developing a new hub airport is so important to London and to explain why further expansion of Heathrow is impossible.

Appointing a world-class team of experts has added further weight to the work being driven forward by the Mayor to address the nation’s aviation crisis. He has made it very clear that he wishes to see the speediest possible resolution to the debate on where to build a multi runway hub airport, so that the British economy is given the best chance to prosper in the face of huge competition from its global rivals
The Mayor has confirmed that the following organisations have all been engaged to help with work being prepared for submission to the Government.

They will provide expertise under the following themes:

Airport design & infrastructure

Atkins - one of the world’s leading design, engineering and project management consultancies. Projects they have worked on include the London 2012 Olympics, Bahrain World Trade Centre and the Dubai Metro. Atkins will also lead on consideration of surface access and environmental impacts.

Zaha Hadid Architects – Zaha Hadid was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize (considered to be the Nobel Prize of architecture) in 2004 and is internationally renowned for her theoretical and academic work. Time Magazine included her in their 2010 list of the 100 most influential people in the world. She has worked on globally celebrated projects such as the London 2012 Aquatics Centre and Guangzhou Opera House in China.

Pascall & Watson architects - Previous projects include Heathrow Terminal 5, Dublin Airport Terminal 2, Rome Fiumicino Airport Masterplan. They also designed St Pancras International Station.

Socio economic impacts

Ramboll – a leading international engineering and management consultancy with a track record of examining the economic impact of airports and other infrastructure from around the world, supporting key developments in European air traffic control, working on the new Thames Crossing and developing National Policy Statements.

Oxford Economics – a world leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis for business and government with unrivalled experience of exploring the economic impact of the aviation sector and airports for clients including IATA, ATAG, BAA and Airbus and developing economic forecasts and scenarios for London.

York Aviation – a leading firm specialising in the assessment of the economic impacts of aviation and aviation demand planning.

Professor Peter Tyler - Peter is a Professor in urban and regional economics in the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge and Fellow at St. Catharine's College. Peter has an extensive track record in undertaking research for the public and private sector and an established reputation in the field of urban and regional economics with a particular emphasis on the evaluation of policy. He has been a Project Director for over seventy major research projects for Government.

Commercial viability

Ernst and Young – a global leader in assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services.

Legal and regulatory

Ashurst – The leading global law firm, which specialises in advising corporates, financial institutions and governments. Their core businesses are in corporate, finance, energy, resources and infrastructure.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "It is absolutely imperative that work to progress a new hub airport in the southeast is completed as soon as possible. The Government has set a timetable that dawdles when dash should be the order of the day. That is why I have assembled a mighty team of experts who I have tasked with delivering a fulsome examination of the most realistic solutions to our aviation crisis in the shortest time possible, which I look forward to sharing with the Government."

Zaha Hadid said: "This work is essential to deliver the most integrated transport solutions for London and the UK. It will enable London to maintain its position as one of the world's most important economic, commercial and cultural centres; outlining the city's future growth and development which has always been founded on global connectivity."

Mike Pearson, UK director of airports, Atkins said: "This project is not purely about the creation of a new hub airport, it's about forming the foundations for London's future development and reaffirming the UK's position as a key international centre. It will fundamentally shift the debate on UK aviation once and for all, providing both a convincing and compelling case for how international air connectivity is critical to underpinning the UK economy, as well as driving wider regeneration."

Around 15 different proposals for a new hub airport in the southeast have already been made public. The Mayor has consulted on criteria that will be used to evaluate each of those proposals and to form a shortlist of options. That shortlist is expected to be announced within weeks and the team now assembled by the Mayor will combine their expertise to produce detailed feasibility studies of the shortlisted options that the Mayor will submit to the Davies Commission.

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Turkey's economy expanded by 8.5% last year, which this week prompted the organiser of the inaugural Istanbul Design Biennial to declare that the nation "needs good design more than other countries," and Bodrum International Airport is one of many projects to emerge from this period of rapid development.

The building has a steel and glass structure with large column-free spaces and clear signage to direct passengers around the terminal. "The main idea was to make a very simple airport," explained Tabanlıoğlu. "Its just a massive box and then a big glass bridge looking to the north where the aeroplanes are coming in".

The architect also discusses the sustainability of designing a "summer resort" airport. "The envelope was very important," he explains, before describing the natural ventilation and cooling systems in place. He cites a naturally ventilated house as a precedent and says: "We are learning from small scales to try and go to the bigger scales."

We’ve filmed a series of interviews with award winners at the World Architecture Festival. See all the movies we’ve published so far, including our interview with architect Chris Wilkinson about the World Building of the Year.

See all our stories about WAF 2012 »

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- Murat Tabanlıoğlu on Bodrum Airport appeared first on Dezeen.