“Looking forward to the future, the new King Salman International Airport reimagines the traditional terminal as a single concourse loop, served by multiple entrances.” – Luke Fox, Head of Foster + Partners.
Foster + Partners has won the competition to redesign the King Salman International Airport. The airport is aimed to be one of the biggest airports in the world. It is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and is supposed to be spread across 57 square kilometers, approximately.
The airport project was launched by Saudi Arabia’s King – Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and is to be named after him. If the construction follows the plotted timeline, it is estimated that the airport will accommodate up to 120 million passengers by the year 2030. And by the year 2050, it might accommodate 185 million passengers and 3.5 million tonnes of cargo per year.
The airport is supposed to include six parallel runways along with the existing terminals. All of which are named after the king. The premises also include airport support facilities across 12 square km including residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets, and other logistics real estate.
Riyadh’s identity and the cultural significance of Saudi Arabia have been taken into consideration while designing the airport. The airport is aimed to ensure a unique travel experience for visitors as well as transit travelers.
“The terminal is much of its place and connects passengers to the sensory experiences of the city with natural elements, tampered light, and state-of-the-art facilities.” says the head of the studio, Luke fox.
The project is addressed as a ‘Mega-project’ and is speculated to strengthen the position of Riyadh making it a global logistics hub. It is said to also boost the transportation of Riyadh along with its trade and tourism. And to act as a bridge connecting the east to the west.
After the completion of the project, the airport is expected to become an Aerotropolis center. It will work around the customer journey, making it a seamless experience for travelers. Along with the use of world-class efficient operations and innovation.
The studio has ensured to incorporate sustainability as a primary aspect of the design. It forms the core of the project. By the completion of the project, it is expected to have incorporated LEED Platinum certification. The design uses cutting-edge green initiatives. And it will be powered by renewable energy solutions.
“This visionary development will play an important role in shaping the city into a global hub of creativity and innovation.” says the senior partner of the studio, Seif A. Bahaa Eldin
Foster + Partners is a British architecture studio. It is a global studio for design and engineering that was founded in 1967 by Norman Foster. The firm mainly focuses on sustainability and that is its primary goal.
The team has worked on project across the globe and have introduced great designs. Their most known works include The British Library of Political and Economic Science, 30 St Mary Axe (one of London’s most popular buildings), the HSBC Building in Hong Kong, Apple Park, California, ETC.
The studio is currently also working on the Red Sea International airport. It is yet another airport located in Saudi Arabia and is aimed to build tourism in the said location. It is a part of the bigger Red Sea project and the studio will be working on the Southern Dunes Hotel and the Ring-shaped Hotel. Both are to be located on the western coast of the country.
The studio also recently announced the construction of a new CPK airport. It is located between Warsaw and Lodz, in Poland
Apart from these major projects, the studio has previously given some marvelous designs to the world. Including A quartet of High-speed rail stations in Mecca, Medina, Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic city.
References:
Foster + Partners wins competition for king salman international … (no date). Available at: https://www.fosterandpartners.com/news/archive/2022/11/foster-partners-wins-competition-for-king-salman-international-airport-in-riyadh/
Cano, P. (2022) Foster + Partners wins competition for King Salman International Airport in Saudi Arabia, ArchDaily. ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/993130/foster-plus-partners-wins-competition-for-king-salman-international-airport-in-saudi-arabia
SaudiGulf Projects (2022) Foster + Partners wins competition for King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, SaudiGulf Projects. Available at: https://www.saudigulfprojects.com/2022/11/foster-partners-wins-competition-for-king-salman-international-airport-in-riyadh/
www.fosterandpartners.com, F.+ P./ (no date) Home: Foster + partners, Architectural Design and Engineering. Available at: https://www.fosterandpartners.com/
