10 Inspirational Airport Architectures in the World

1. Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport

Heydar Aliyev International Airport is located in the capital of Azerbaijan and features giant wooden cocoons designed by Autoban, one of the best Turkish architecture studios. Light enters through the concave external glass walls, illuminating cocoons that contain bars, shops, cafes, and other amenities. 

2. Denver International Airport

The United States' airport architecture often leaves much to be desired, but Denver's fabric-covered tents stand out in a sea of boring design. The tents look striking at any time of day, and Fentress Architects designed them to mimic Colorado's snow-capped Rocky Mountains. Also, recent construction added a new Westin Hotel to the airport, which helps travelers get trains directly from the airport to downtown Denver.

3. Madrid Barajas International Airport

The Bajras Airport, located 12 km from the Spanish city's center, was upgraded in 2006. With an extension by Ivan Harbour from Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the airport grew to twice its original size. However, the structure's unusual wave has shaped the roof, which is supported by central "trees" that punctuate the roof to provide natural light throughout the terminal's upper level. Bright yellows and reds offer a welcome departure from the standard white and gray used in most airport color schemes. Also, the roof provides much-needed shade to combat Madrid's hot summers.

4. Kansai International Airport

Kansai International Airport, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, opened in 1994 to relieve overcrowding at Osaka International Airport. Built on an artificial island in the Bay of Osaka, it's the first "ócean" airport in the World to handle 100,000 passengers a day.

Also, the extra-long terminal, the longest in the World at the time, was built in stretches of 1.7 kilometers with 42 boarding gates and a large curving roof shaped like an airfoil. Also, the structure was designed to handle Japan's frequent earthquakes (just four months after the airport's opening, the terminal resisted a 6.9 Kobe earthquake).

5. Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing International Airport, one of the most significant buildings in the World, is a long terminal. It was opened in the 2008 Olympics. This structure boasts a bold design by architects Foster + Partners, incorporating the traditional Chinese color palette of red and yellow and a dragon-inspired shape to honor Chinese history and culture. The terminal building and transportation center enclose a 1.3 million square meter floor area.

6. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Mumbai's Terminal 2 structure, designed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM), was inaugurated in 2014 to serve the city's increasing number of visitors. The design's focal point is an enormous roof canopy that reflects the shape of traditional Indian pavilions.

Overall, 30 rising columns are connected to the canopy above, with designs partially inspired by India's national bird, the peacock. SOM also aimed to honor the customs of local cultures—curbside drop-off areas are "crafted for large groups of accompanying well-wishers [to] facilitate traditional Indian arrival and departure ceremonies.

7. Kuala Lumpur International Airport

One of the biggest airports in Asia, Kuala Lumpur Airport, created by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, features an Islamic-style shading roof supported by large columns. The roof also evokes the appearance of a typical tree found in the Malaysian rainforest, and the lights on the canopy symbolize the dappled sunlight that filters through the leaves. Kurokawa's "airport in the forest" concept showcases how contemporary design—the shell-like roof is constructed from smooth stainless steel—and cultural customs can merge. The airport additionally includes several prayer rooms distributed throughout.

8. Marrakech Menara Airport

Marrakech Menara Airport was completed in 2008 and was designed by Swiss Architect E2A Architecture. This group of architects uses a gorgeous facade that has become a hallmark of the airport. The beauty is defined by the lights that enter the space through the arabesques, which comprise 24 rhombuses and three triangles. Also, the light of the terminal changes according to the time of day, featuring stylish Islamic ornamental designs. It is one of the finest examples of how a contemporary building can incorporate traditional cultural motifs.

9. Kutaisi International Airport

This compact airport in Kutaisi, Georgia, was created by the Dutch architectural firm UNStudio. The firm aimed to assist travelers in finding their way through the airport by constructing a vibrant red corner to serve as a crossing point and point of recognition."

Expansive windows produce a bright interior filled with natural light and offer views of the Caucasus Mountains. At the same time, a golden, wood-like feature at the terminal's center serves as a gathering spot for passengers. Architect Ben van Berkel crafted the structure with broad spans, open areas, and lofty ceilings—a tribute to the historic railway stations of yesteryear.

10. Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport

The initial airport project created by architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas from Rome, the new Terminal 3 structure at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in China, was constructed to appear like a manta ray when viewed from above. The three-story concourse and roof are enveloped in a white double-layered skin punctuated by honeycomb-shaped metal and glass panels. This design enables natural light to permeate the interior, and the honeycomb motif and modern white hue are uniform throughout.