Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has been announced as the winner of the international architectural competition to design Vilnius Airport's new arrivals terminal, according to a statement released by Lithuanian Airports.

In order to meet the projected increases in passenger demand and consolidate Lithuania's standing as a leading gateway in the Baltic area, the project marks a critical turning point in the airport's long-term strategic plan.

"The arrivals terminal of Vilnius Airport requires updating – it has long since ceased to meet today's needs or the airport’s future capacity and vision. As the gateway to Lithuania, the terminal creates the first impression for everyone arriving into the country," said Eugenijus Sabutis, Lithuania's Minister of Transport and Communications. 

"The very high quality of ideas in the design competition proposed the most modern, convenient solutions that can adapt to the airport’s future requirements," Sabutis added.

The new arrivals terminal at Vilnius Airport is being developed by Lithuanian Airports as a strategically significant project for the nation's aviation and economic growth, and it is currently running at capacity. 

The new arrivals terminal, which complements the recently finished departure terminal, will allow the airport to handle up to 10.6 million people a year, satisfying the ongoing rise in demand for air travel.

The design incorporates historic elements and art forms into a modern architectural language, drawing inspiration from Lithuanian cultural history. 

The rhombus, a triangular shape with important symbolic meaning in Baltic mythology, is the source of the modular geometry of the terminal.

"The design presents a mature architectural solution for a public infrastructure project of this scale. It boldly steps into the future but maintains respect for its location and the environment. I believe the new terminal will not only ensure functionality and passenger comfort, but will also become an example of sustainable, high-quality architectural development in Vilnius," said architect Laura Kairienė, Vilnius City Chief Executive Officer.

The airport's existing facilities have shaped the new arrivals terminal's scale and composition, placing the historic Terminal 1 at the center of a cohesive ensemble that is flanked by the modern departure and arrivals terminals.

The new arrivals terminal places a high priority on smooth passenger connectivity with the airport's current amenities, in line with the Vilnius Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. 

The airport's current planned development, which will provide a significant multimodal transportation hub for the city at its central Airport Plaza, is linked with the terminal's design. 

Airport Plaza will be serviced by local and intercity bus networks, taxi services, cycling and pedestrian routes, and a planned Rail Baltica high-speed rail station in addition to regional and local passenger train services.

Render © ZHA

The inside of the terminal makes homage to the traditional art form of sodai straw gardens in Lithuania, which has been acknowledged by UNESCO as a component of the country's cultural heritage. Grain stalks are intricately carved into sodai, which are hanging ornaments with triangular geometric structures that are widely connected to festivity and well-being in the region.

The terminal's pleated roof, completed with wood from nearby forests, defines the interiors and mirrors the delicate, interwoven geometries of traditional sodai, creating an atmosphere that evokes the feeling of being submerged in the art form. Skylights with rhomboid and triangle shapes integrated into the ceiling let in a plenty of natural light while also showcasing the terminal's distinctive architecture.

The new arrivals terminal can accommodate future passenger demand and evolving aviation technologies while retaining the maximum performance efficiency thanks to this modular roof structure.

The design focuses on easy navigation and orientation. All amenities and facilities are available to all passengers and their luggage, and the terminal's natural light and city views will help passengers navigate it with ease.

"The result is an architectural language that is both innovative and rooted in local heritage. Looking to the future, the terminal’s design offers a seamless passenger experience directly connects with the city’s transport network," said Ludovico Lombardi, ZHA director.

The arrivals terminal, which aims for a "Excellent" BREEAM certification, uses passive design elements that reduce heat gain in the summer and promote heat retention in the winter. High-performance double-insulated glazing is paired with smart building technologies that automatically adjust to lower energy usage and learn to anticipate daily passenger flows, as well as hybrid natural ventilation.

Approximately 13,000 square meters of brand-new solar panels will be installed on the roof of the arrivals terminal and the nearby ancillary buildings to generate energy on-site. In addition, the design integrates stormwater management, rainfall collection, and greywater recycling through a natural water filtration and storage system.

In addition to its masterplanning and traffic solutions for cars, bikes, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transportation, the terminal's structural engineering and sustainable design were developed by an international team from Tyréns Group.

"The design incorporates Tyrén’s interdisciplinary expertise as a leader in structural engineering and sustainable building technologies. The new arrivals terminal reflects Tyréns’ commitment to delivering sustainable engineering and design services that build lasting value for future generations," said Agnė Peikštenienė, Tyréns project lead.

The city's long-term vision to improve Lithuania's regional and international connectivity over the next 30 years depends heavily on the new Vilnius Airport arrivals facility.

Vilnius Airport's expanded capacity will support the airport's function as Lithuania's primary gateway and a fully integrated air, rail, and road transportation hub for the Baltic region. 

Direct flights will connect Vilnius with numerous new destinations, boosting the local economy and increasing the nation's accessibility from around the world.

Zaha Hadid Architects began construction on Asaan, the Misk Heritage Museum in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the firm opened a new science and technology museum with layered form and glazed façade in Shenzhen, China. Moreover, ZHA revealed the Cityzen Tower, the 42-story Cityzen Tower is imagined as a vertically extended version of Tbilisi's new Central Park, which has 36 hectares of parklands.

Project facts

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
Design: Patrik Schumacher
ZHA Project Directors: Gianluca Racana, Ludovico Lombardi, Michele Salvi, Cristiano Ceccato (Aviation Director)
ZHA Project Associate: Davide Del Giudice
ZHA Project Architects: Luca Ruggeri, Cristina Barrios Cabrera (ZHA Aviation team)
ZHA Project Team: Maria Lagging, Gizem Muhtaroglu, Louai Jaber, Sevval Alp
ZHA Sustainability Team: Bahaa Alnassrallah, Abhilash Menon, Aleksander Mastalski, Jing Xu, Shibani Choudhury, Disha Shetty, Aditya Ambare
ZHA Space Planning Team: Ulrich Blum, Danial Haziq Hamdan
ZHA Modelmaker: Adam Twigger
ZHA Acquisitions: Marcella Fedele, Lenie Metse

Consultants
Engineering: Tyrens Lithuania, Tyrens Sweden, Tyrens group (international)
Airport Operation: NACO

All images © Negativ – Brano Marsalek unless otherwise stated. 

> via ZHA News 

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