UNStudio’s Kutaisi International Airport in Georgia completed

UNStudio recently announced another completed project this month: the Kutaisi International Airport in the Republic of Georgia. First presented to the President of Georgia in 2011, the newly built airport will provide domestic and international flights for use by international diplomats, national politicians and tourists.

The Kutaisi Airport is the latest architectural development for Georgia. Other notable projects in recent years include the Batumi Aquarium by Henning Larsen and a series of J. MAYER H.-designed highway rest areas.

Check out some images below.

Here's the announcement we've received from UNStudio:

"The airport is destined to become a central hub, with up to one million travellers targeted in 2014-2015. Current figures for the airport show 30 flights per week, with an increase to 40 expected in Spring 2014, by which time direct flights from Western Europe to Kutaisi will also be possible.

UNStudio's design comprises the full airport development, including a revision of the runway, the master plan for the landscape and planned future development thereof, the terminal building, offices, a meteorological station and the air traffic control tower."

"The architecture of the terminal refers to a gateway, in which a clear structural layout creates an all-encompassing and protective volume. Both the exterior corner detail – which functions as a crossing-point and point of recognition - and the so called 'umbrella' structure within the terminal building – which operates as a roundabout for passenger flows - operate as the two main architectural details around which all of the airport functions are organised."

"The umbrella further guarantees views from the terminal plaza to the apron and to the Caucasus on the horizon and vice versa. The central point in the umbrella is an exterior patio which is used for departing passengers.  The transparent space around this central area is designed to ensure that flows of passengers are smooth and that departure and arrival flows do not coincide."

"The design for the new airport incorporates numerous sustainable elements. A large onsite underground source of natural water provides the basis for the reduction of energy consumption through concrete core activation and use for sprinkler basins. The floors of both the terminal and the traffic control tower will utilise this water for maintaining a regulated temperature in the two volumes."

"In the terminal building cantilevered roofs provide sun shading on south and southwest zones. A hybrid low pressure ventilation system is integrated into the terminal's main structure and there is a grey water collection system in the floor underneath the terminal building.

A future aim is to present Kutaisi airport as Georgia’s first airport to incorporate a strict segregation of waste and establish a recycling system which could be further implemented into new and existing projects in Georgia."

"The design organises the logistical processes, provides optimal security and ensures that the traveller has sufficient space to circulate comfortably. Serving as a lobby to Georgia, the terminal will in addition operate as a café and art gallery, displaying works by young Georgian artists and thereby presenting a further identifier of contemporary Georgian culture.

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"The 55m high Air Traffic Control Tower and its supporting office/operational building is designed to complement the design of the terminal. The tower’s strong appearance makes it a beacon of the airport and surrounding area. The traffic control cabin on the top level forms the focal point of the tower, with a 360 degrees view on the surrounding landscape.

A spacious and comfortable interior ensures a workspace for 4-8 operators with optimal concentration. The exterior of the tower is clad with a perforated skin on a concrete core to use wind for ventilation purposes. LED Light in-between the skin and the core enhance the beacon effect of the tower at dusk and dawn by changing colour whenever there is a fluctuation in wind speed."

Project data and credits:

Kutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport, Georgia, 2011-2013


Client: master plan and terminal: United Airports of Georgia LLC

Client: Air Traffic Control Tower, offices and meteorological building: Sakaeronavigatsia Ltd.

Location: Kutaisi, Georgia

Building surface: terminal 4,500 m2; Control Tower and offices 1,800 m2

Height Air Traffic Control Tower: 55m.

Building site: 12,000 m2

Program: International Airport Terminal, Air Traffic Control Tower and Offices for Navigation

Timing: Concept Design 2011, design development and construction 2012-2013
Status: Completed

Credits
UNStudio: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, Gerard Loozekoot with Frans van Vuure and Filippo Lodi, Roman Kristesiashvili, Tina Kortmann, Wendy van der Knijff, Kristoph Nowak, Machiel Wafelbakker,  Gustav Fagerström, Thomas Harms, Deepak Jawahar, Nils Saprovskis, Patrik Noome

Advisers
Structural consultant: MTM kft. Budapest

MEP consultant: SMG-SISU kft. Budapest
Landscape: OR else

Airport planning; Arup Aviation, London
Sustainability; Arup, Amsterdam
Terminal advisor on interior & art; Inside Outside / Petra Blaisse
Light: Primo Exposures
Local architect: Studio ARCI, Tbilisi
Acoustics: SCENA akoestisch adviseurs
Wind-testing: Peutz
Cost and management; Davis Langdon, London
Visualisation; Moka Studio
Photographer; Nakaniamasakhlisi, Tbilisi

Photos © Nakanimamasakhlisi, courtesy of UNStudio.

For more UNStudio articles here on Bustler, click here.

Browse the thumbnails below to see diagrams.