Zagreb Airport
This complex project is presented as part of the new Airport City zone intended to be a future development area of metropolitan Zagreb. Apart from its well-considered functional positioning in the space, the new terminal is dominant in a planning sense as well, impressively accentuating the picture of the city in its southern views.
photography by © Josip Škof
In the layout of the ground plan, the terminal, in spite of its size, is simple and legible in its architecture, composed of an elongated track of communications passages with aircraft stands and of a central building in which all the other functions are housed. The main volume of an almost square plan (137.5 x 131.1 m) that extends through four floors, is filled with check-in counters, hospitality establishments as well as many ancillary features and the security control zone. Within the longitudinal part of the terminal are the commercial functions and the waiting room islands, from which, via eight flexible bridges, embarkations are managed.
photography by © Josip Škof
The structure’s expressiveness derives from its organic shaping in conjunction with the powerful algorithm of the complex curves of the roof. The undulating silhouette helps it to fit into the surrounding context, signalizes the city in which the structure is located and openly evokes the skyline of the mountain surrounding Zagreb. The roof of the new terminal leaves the impression of a light and lacy fabric that seems to be floating over the interior. The combination of metal envelope and large format glazed membranes on the facades provides unique views onto the city. This kind of approach to visual idiom is achieved in an inseparable link with the structural base of the whole terminal – a double- curved spatial steel grid composed of 26,000 ‘sticks’ that, precisely because of the curved shape of the external envelope, are all of different lengths, linked together with the 6100 spherical nodes of the grid.
photography by © Josip Škof
Out of a utilitarian segment of the building, the structural roof grid, the effect of a work of art is created, the white of the many linear elements creating an impressive interior landscape, their geometry resulting in a sculptural impression that occupies pride of place in the experience of the interior. Underlying this expressiveness of form are striking data about the material expended – 2000 tons of structural steel, 35,000 cubic meters of concrete and 5000 tons of rebar. The new aerodrome complex is a synthesis of structural engineering, architectural art, and superb functionality as well as urban contextualizing, becoming a new reference point in Croatian 21 st century architecture. Out of the featureless periphery of Zagreb, it has created a potent center that will turn into a prestigious architectural and urban design gate to Croatia. by Alen Žunić.
photography by © Josip Škof
Project Info
Architects: Kincl, Neidhardt, Institut IGH
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
Lead Architects: Branko Kincl, Velimir Neidhardt, Jure Radić
Area: 65860.0 m2
Year: 2017
Type: Airport
Photographs: Josip Škof, Studio HRG, Damir Fabijanić
