Seven Most Beautiful Airports in the WorldAirports are rarely places where you’d willingly spend more time than is necessary.
In short: few people would describe most airports as beautiful, with their architecture typically focused more on practical functionality.
Yet there are exceptions out there and the prestigious Prix Versailles recently released its list of the seven most beautiful airports.
The terminal’s theme, Blossom in Guangzhou, is reflected throughout the structure which is filled with natural light.
Li Wei#2 Terminal 3, Frankfurt Airport, GermanyWhile Guangzhou takes nature as its model, the new Terminal 3 in Frankfurt is inspired by urban design.
Seven Most Beautiful Airports in the World
Airports are rarely places where you’d willingly spend more time than is necessary. They can be loud, crowded and grim and you have to run a gauntlet of security checks before getting to your gate. As travellers navigate them, the feeling of stress can be almost palpable. In short: few people would describe most airports as beautiful, with their architecture typically focused more on practical functionality. Yet there are exceptions out there and the prestigious Prix Versailles recently released its list of the seven most beautiful airports. All of them are definitely more than mere stops in transit to your final destination. Some examples of this new generation of terminals reflect local landscapes and cultural identities in their designs, and many have emerged as noteworthy landmarks alongside more conventional sights.
From China to Germany, these are the 7 most beautiful airports in the world
#1 Terminal 3, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China
Guangzhou in China is nicknamed the City of Flowers making it appropriate that the architects behind the new Terminal 3 sought out some floral inspiration. The terminal’s theme, Blossom in Guangzhou, is reflected throughout the structure which is filled with natural light. There’s a succession of curved forms, terraces, gardens and atria, drawing on elements of nature to create an atmosphere that is more reminiscent of the lobby of a grand hotel than of a sterile major airport. A warm palette of materials also contributes to the terminal’s appeal: instead of metal and plastic, much of it is constructed from wood, which flows seamlessly across the ceilings. The golden, undulating wall panels also evoke Guangzhou’s long history as a major trading centre.
Blossom in Guangzhou is the theme of the new Terminal 3 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China, which features plenty of natural light and makes use of natural materials such as wood. Li Wei
#2 Terminal 3, Frankfurt Airport, Germany
While Guangzhou takes nature as its model, the new Terminal 3 in Frankfurt is inspired by urban design. Piers, gates and lounges are organised like streets and squares. There is also a 6,000-square-metre marketplace featuring retail outlets and restaurants. But it is not just in its architecture that Terminal 3 turns to cities for inspiration. It’s practically the size of a metropolis too: With a total area of 361,000 square metres, it is almost as large as Frankfurt’s city centre.
