| Project Detail |
Upgrading airport facilities to safely and efficiently manage air traffic.
When the island of Cyprus was divided by the United Nations Buffer Zone (also known as the Green Line) between the Greek and Turkish communities, the Greek community could no longer access the Nicosia Airport on the north side of the line. Instead, the aging military airport in nearby Larnaca and an outmoded airport terminal building in the western resort town of Pafos took on the weight of the community’s air traffic. As air traffic on the island grew, it became clear to the Cypriot government that the island’s two airports needed new terminals to meet demand—which is where we came in.
As the prime consultant, we learned the intricacies of security in European airports, where domestic and international passengers are separated, and how design can address delicate issues such as passenger segregation following the Schengen Customs Union. In the Larnaca terminal, a five-level facility with sixteen gates designed to resemble a Roman aqueduct, we included split level bridges to simplify circulation and resolve security issues. Pafos’ smaller facility is built on a single level and while contemporary in design, similarly recalls a Roman courtyard villa in both materials and form.
The design for the new, highly-efficient Larnaca and Pafos facilities looks forward and backward at the same time—able to address both current and future requirements of the airport industry, while at the same time evoking a sense of place and history. |
