French Polynesia | Typology: Airports | Year: 2023 | Area: 52,000 m2
In an ever-evolving world, every industry is in a constant race to stay current and ahead of the latest trends and technologies. The transportation and aviation industry is no exception. In recent years we have witnessed how many airports have presented total renovation plans that will completely change the way users travel through them. For this reason, AGUSTIN AND ARCHITECTS has decided to present a project for the renovation of Fa'a'ā International Airport, the most important airport in the group of islands that make up French Polynesia. By the way, one of these islands is the very famous island paradise of Bora Bora, one of the most impressive natural environments in the world.
The airport was planned to become a new international HUB that allows airlines from all continents to connect with the south of America, a particularly isolated region from Asia and Oceania. With this new terminal, airlines will be able to offer direct flights between Asia and South America, with a stopover in paradise on earth, thus increasing the number of flights offered to and from the island. This will generate economic benefits for the airlines as well as for the island and for all the jobs that these flights would generate.
Agustín González explains the importance of this new airport for the economic development of French Polynesia.
The new Fa'a'ā International Airport, the gateway to the earthly paradise of the South Pacific
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Ways in which the design of this airport makes it unique in the world
1. Reduction of construction costs
The airport was designed in such a way that we were able to avoid building a second level for international arrivals. Airports of this size generally require 3 levels, one for departures and boarding gates, another for international arrivals and customs, and another for baggage claim and exits from the terminal. In this case, we were able to modify the way the airport works, so that only two levels are required, generating savings of up to 30% in the cost of building the terminal.
2. V-shaped ceilings that represent the style of the region
The V-shaped ceilings allow us to generate spectacular views inside the terminal, reminding us that we are on a tourist island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the design of the roof of the terminal allows us to protect ourselves from solar incidence, while allowing indirect natural light to enter. The terminal is designed to operate with virtually no artificial lighting in general areas, generating significant savings in energy consumption, something particularly important for an island in the middle of the ocean. Finally, these V-shaped roofs allow the collection of rainwater. Thanks to the constant rains on the island and the terminal's wastewater treatment system, the terminal can even generate a net consumption equal to zero in terms of drinking water consumption from the local network.
3. Indoor green areas
In the boarding gates area, the terminal has double-height areas and interior vegetation, making the boarding and connection process much more relaxing and user-friendly. Greenery indoors is scientifically proven to help humans reduce cognitive load and enter deeper levels of relaxation. This is especially important in the case of airports, as these spaces tend to be very stressful for many people. In this case, being a vacation destination, the terminal is designed to complement the state of fun and relaxation of the passengers.
4. High resistance wooden structure in waiting rooms
Currently there is a tendency to build in high resistance wood (mass timber in English), making the structures cheaper, easier to transport and more sustainable. In this case, as it is an island where the main raw material for construction is wood, we decided to innovate and incorporate this construction system to the side wings of the terminal.
5. Panoramic views
The airport is specially designed so that all passengers can have direct access to the terminal windows, offering them unparalleled panoramic views. Contrary to many modern terminals that have decided to isolate passengers from the outside due to internal tunnels and ramps to connect the boarding tunnels with the baggage area, in this case we decided to place escalators (yes, it was that simple) in each of the boarding gates to reduce the impact that the ramps have on the distance between the final waiting rooms and the terminal windows. Without a doubt, this terminal offers one of the best views in the world of aviation.
One of the peculiarities of the terminal is that the security area is backed by a panoramic window at runway level so that passengers are welcomed with an impressive view. This can normally only be found in small airports, but here all passengers will be able to enjoy these impressive views, an especially important touch considering that security screening is often the space that causes the most stress for passengers. This helps to reduce stress levels and provide a space for entertainment as passengers line up to cross the filter.
Another peculiarity of this terminal, something that cannot be found almost anywhere else in the world, is that the "Main Course" space, where the check-in area is located, has large panoramic windows that allow you to observe the regional planes waiting in the terminal. This generates an integral design, where all users of the terminal, including family members of travelers, document and customer service agents, vendors, and many more, can enjoy impressive panoramic views.
Thank you for joining us for yet another project presentation of AGUSTIN AND ARCHITECTS! We hope you enjoyed this tour. Subscribe to our Newsletter to find out about the upcoming projects that the design studio will be presenting.
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