This article highlights the five airport projects from 2025 that for me stood out for their architectural quality and strong sense of place.
Across all five projects, a clear trend emerges: airport terminal architecture is increasingly shaped by regional identity and recognisable design, rather than generic global standards. Materiality plays a key role, especially the use of timber-based systems as a warm, character-building element that also supports sustainability goals. This is reinforced by strong daylight and lighting design, which makes airport terminal spaces more comfortable, and keeps the architecture visually consistent throughout the day.
Check the specific architects websites for more information through the links provided below
(All pictures by the architects)
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Pittsburgh shows the level of quality U.S. airports can achieve when they are designed and delivered to a high standard. The project feels very well balanced: nothing is extreme or overly fashionable โ itโs simply strong architecture, with varied spaces and a confident calmness. It avoids overly expensive construction methods and unnecessary risks.
Architects: Luis Vidal + Gensler
https://www.gensler.com/projects/pittsburgh-international-airport-terminal
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Once again Foster + Partner demonstrates their strengths as airport designers with decades of experience: an impressive, generous and airy building; a logical, modular and expandable layout; and a roof that manages to make a complex technical โinner lifeโ look effortless.
Itโs a classic building with a genuinely โtimelessโ design – one that will still feel beautiful in 20 years.
Economically, however, it may be on the large side for Cambodia, and therefore not particularly efficient.
Architects: Foster + Partners
https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/techo-international-airport
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This project shows how Indian airport design is increasingly emancipating itself from foreign architects – which, given the size and ambition of the country, feels absolutely right. While the design is clearly inspired by the SOM terminals in Mumbai and Bangalore, it succeeds in defining a local architectural language. The bamboo and the extensive planting create very pleasant spaces. The project was also delivered impressively fast.
Architects: NUDES
https://parametric-architecture.com/guwahati-airport-terminal-2-award-2025/?srsltid=AfmBOooyLXzYFXSq2Gwhey8IASwLy4XjQ_i0HHXU7P1iY71ibY_Rlc7a
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This project is a great reminder that young smaller local practices are absolutely capable of designing high-quality terminals. The concept is most likely influenced by BIGโs โDock Aโ in Zurich, but that doesnโt diminish the achievement. The design extends the existing building in a very natural way, while also finding a contemporary form that fits the countryโs culture.
Architects: Dagopen Architects
https://www.dagopen.ee/en/project/tallinn-airport/
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After their first airport project in Zurich, BIG once again manages to develop a completely new and surprising design language. Their approach could be described as a โsuper-radical regionalismโ โ combining traditional craft techniques with the technical possibilities of today.
Similar to Foster + Partnersโ Red Sea Airport in Saudi Arabia, this terminal shows the potential to become the iconic symbol of a new travel destination.
Architects: Bjarke Ingels Group
https://big.dk/projects/gelephu-international-airport-20769
