Design St Petersburg Airport
Having spent the past 24 hours in flight transit back to New York, I thought it fitting to do a post on airport design. What better company to focus on than London Studio Grimshaw, who recently completed an Airport in St Petersburg, and whom have just unveiled their plans for the worlds largest airport terminal under one roof in Istanbul.
Grimshaw collaborated with engineering firm Ramboll and delivery architect Pascall+Watson to complete the first terminal of Pulkovo International Airport, which is expected to bring 12 millions passengers in and out of the Russian city each year. “This building represents a point of departure for Grimshaw,” said Grimshaw partner Mark Middeton. “We are known for our expressive structures and attention to detail. We wanted to keep all of those elements – the practicality and the buildability, and our interest in sustainability – but also try to make this building more about form and space.”
The interior ceiling is dynamic, geometric and light filled. The shapes creating the ceiling are not only aesthetic, they are functional, acting as supporting trusses for the roof above. You see the striking new terminal roof and envelope are designed to accommodate the extremes of climate experienced by the city, including the characteristically heavy snowfalls of winter.
The decorative metal panels give these folded surfaces their golden colour, intended as a reference to the gilded spires of churches around St Petersburg. Lighting fixtures run along the folds, while voids between surfaces reveal skylights that help passengers to navigate the terminal. Thoughtful and practical. Win.
Airport terminals can be inspiring, daunting, sad, happy and stressful all at once. To stand in a space like this before boarding your flight no doubt goes a long way to helping you enjoy your time or relieve your stresses. Grimshaw gets it- it really is about the journey, not the destination.
Concept architect: Grimshaw
Design consultant: Ramboll
Executive architect: Pascal + Watson
Structural Engineer: Arup
Services Engineer: Buro Happold
Quantity Surveyor: Turner & Townsend
Airport Specialist: Naco
Retail Specialist: Chapman Taylor
