Project: Prototype Terminals in Saudi Arabia
Architects: GMW MIMARLIK
Location: Saudi Arabia
Area: 129,166 sq ft
Photographs by: Courtesy of GMW MIMARLIK
GMW MIMARLIK from Istanbul, Turkey have designed a concept project that aims to achieve much higher levels of comfort for the passengers in Saudi Arabia. Their Prototype Terminals in Saudi Arabia project focuses on 3 the 3 key points of architectural design, ensuring that the design has clarity but is incredibly efficient and sustainable at the same time. The prototypes were developed to be applied to several different locations.
Prototype Terminals in Saudi Arabia were designed as a proposal in response to the client’s request for a conceptual terminal which can be developed for several different locations in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
These design concept proposals are the result of a holistic approach, giving top priority to the critical issues of clarity, efficiency and sustainability in order to achieve high levels of passenger comfort and long-term operational success. Clarity, the quality of being coherent and intelligible, is a primary objective, which shapes these design proposals. Clarity of expression of the successive processes within the building help passengers negotiate their way through the terminal with ease. Clearly defined and straightforward circulation routes from landside to airside and vice versa with minimum changes of level and direction enable the passengers to reach their destinations with ease and little anxiety, and greatly reduce the need to rely on complicated and often confusing way-finding signage.
The proposed structural system has been chosen to achieve optimum efficiency and ease of construction. Main structural elements and the configuration of internal spaces will be expressed in a clear and coherent manner, creating an intelligible public building. Sustainability of a terminal building, which represents a substantial initial capital investment, is also a primary concern. Flexibility and adaptability of the building in response to changes in technology, security requirements and aircraft types with minimum disruption to the existing operations, and its expansion potential to respond to increases in passenger numbers are of paramount importance for the long-term viability of the terminal.
The transparent facades of the terminal will allow natural light to penetrate deep into the building interior and afford clear views of the internal spaces from the outside and vice versa. Transparency of the external walls affording views of the outside will also help passengers easily orientate themselves within the terminal. In addition to intuitive way-finding, passenger experience will be enhanced with optimized daylight, open well-lit spaces with accents in human scale like check-in islands and retail kiosks. Skylights were placed vertically on the roof to have controlled sunlight and prevent overheating in an excessively warm climate.
The proposed overall structural design and detailing of the structural elements intend to express qualities of strength and stability.
Within the building interior, the cladding materials will be generally of warm colour. Wood will be used against the visually contrasting smooth back-painted glass to create a contemporary building interior with a sense of nature.
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