Zagreb Airport - New Passenger Terminal

Zagreb Airport - New Passenger terminal
Invited international Competition
Awarded 4th Place

“Very challenging and advanced architecture” competition jury report

Air transport underpins the business and export of a country and therefore acts both as a portal/gate to that country and a place, the function of which must support flexibility and sustain growth of demand and its associated technologies. Our project sort to address these issues and deliver a vision, a functional transport hub and a sustainable environment.

The Vision

The proposal responds to long-term goals for performance of the building technologies, sustains its environment with the physical resultant; a unique object which stands as a citadel for a new Airport City; to provide terminal services for passengers which one can truly term visionary. Such a system centres on both the external appearance of the terminal and it’s interior. The interior is based on shell-in-shell concept where the primary enclosure, a skin, provide one envelop for the functions arranged within. These are linked by the central Climate nozzle which gives the terminal its unique and perhaps visionary aspect. The Climate nozzle, a central void in the terminal is both garden and lantern to the main halls of the terminal at different levels. Serving as an element for arrivals {at the lower level} from the remote stands to create distraction from stress of baggage reclaim. On the top level {Departures} the nozzle is an integral part of the Retail zone ; a pivotal element for the passenger wishing to relax before take-off or find their way at ease to Passport control and onwards to the gate on the pier structure. By being both visual and functional {induces daylight into the central zones without direct sun light, with passive intake of fresh air} this device will contribute to the character of the terminal. The external appearance of the terminal is of one body, which streamlines the pier and terminal function in one.

The Terminal can be totally energy efficient – efficient being defined as follows: the proposal may generate over 16MW of peak power set against the required 10MW} a construction which support the energy calculation with a high thermal co-efficient glass and ceramic coated facade, an optimised structure to maximise volume using large-span trusses. Both the facade and structure respond to climate through provision of maximum daylight { side glazing maximises day and reduces solar gain} a climate nozzle which penetrates the 3 main areas of the terminal bringing daylight to the central area, reduction of spans in the structure and a low stress point for passenger organisation. Grey water is collected at low level for recycling -, the sprinkler system and/or spray cooling over the facade during summer.

Function: the Top-Down stacking of the section provides a logical relationship for Departure-Transfer- Arrival and delivers an easy-to-navigate pathway for passengers, Airport staff and Airline services. Baggage handling is arranged for the required 5 million with a provision for future extension. With the main scanning section adjacent to the administration level {level 03} which in turn is the interface level for airport staff, crews and general office facilities. The Schengen system of passenger organisation may be active with an interim Domestic – International separation equally programmed. Externally, those departing and travelling to the terminal by taxi, bus or car arrive on the elevated level of the multi-storey car park {under the Hotel rotunda} and can move across the bridges to the departure hall {those parking in the short terms parking can park in the multi-storey parking decks and either walk across the park between the terminal and the parking decks and then use elevators and escalators or go directly to the bridges in the car park decks.

By integrating the technical solution towards a visionary environment ensures that the Terminal and its a