Zaha Hadid Architects [ZHA] and Cox Architecture won an international competition for the concept design of the Western Sydney International Airport in 2019. This concept design encapsulated the diverse qualities of the Western Sydney region for a compelling journey experience and served as the reference design in the tender for a contractor. This concept design has since been developed and delivered by Woods Bagot towards project completion. Comment piece below by Ian Lomas, Principal and Design Leader at Woods Bagot.

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 such as 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 Passenger Terminal Expo last year (no doubt to be continued in 2025). 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?

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 minimise 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 demand.

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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.

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 Qatar 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.

Woods Bagot
Lead Design & Delivery Architect

Cox Architecture & Zaha Hadid Architects
Competition, Concept & Reference Design Architects 

More comment from Woods Bagot, this time on adaptive reuse