The airport terminal is often the place that shapes our first impressions of the country we are visiting. It is here that the emotions of welcome or farewell that accompany our arrivals and departures mix. Terminal 3 is used by passengers of private and state flights, so the emphasis was placed on a contemporary and representative look of the building.
The architectural modifications to Terminal 3 respect the character of the original building with elements of postmodernism while creating a strong signifying character of the terminal towards the airport area. An equally important objective of the alterations was to separate the airport operations within the building and improve access to the apron. This led to the installation of new exits and modifications to circulation elements such as staircases, ramps and canopies in the forecourt. The most striking element of these changes is the new steel structure of the canopy, whose shape is an exclusive visual element. This design is also reflected in the support system of the columns in the shape of comole needles, in the new staircases and ramps, creating a clearly identifiable landmark of the space.
The interior changes focused mainly on the representative entrance floor with a generous lobby and VIP lounge. The design conceives the passenger’s passage through the terminal, including all security processes, as an experiential journey where he or she will find many places to rest or work. The installation of new wayfinding elements facilitates passenger navigation and contributes to the overall comfort of the environment. The result of these improvements is a modernized terminal capable of efficiently serving private and government flights and offering passengers not only comfort and safety, but also an aesthetic experience combined with modern design and technology.
Year of implementation: 2023
Client: the Prague Airport, a.s.
Location:Prague, Vaclav Havel Airport
Photos by Petr Polák and Jan Pokorný
Authors: doc. Ing. arch. Radek Lampa, Ing. Libor Hrdoušek, Ing. David Hřebačka, Ing. arch. Dominika Klavrzová, Ing. arch. David Skalický, Ing. arch. Tomas Kroužil
