Speaking of the new airport in Durban in a previous blog I read with great interest, I would like to draw peoples attention to the new airport built in Singapore, called Changi Airport. This project I thought was brilliant incorporating nature and technology and at the same time addressing issues of sustainability!
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 won a Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Design Award (Honourable Mention) under the industrial, transport and infrastructure projects category.
The award recognises efforts in the pursuit of architectural excellence and innovative architectural solutions, also heightening the appreciation and patronage of good architectural design. This year’s winning projects were selected by a panel of five judges, who evaluated the submissions based on points such as sustainability, elegance of construction and attention to details. Out of 157 entries, SIA handed out awards to 21 deserving projects
There’s nothing cold and sterile about the Changi Airport of Singapore, which is home to a beautiful five-story wall of vines. Located in the baggage pick-up area, this self-watering 300-meter-wide vertical wall of vegetation brings some much-needed fresh air into a large, densely populated building.
Below is a panorama from the third level, overlooking the ticketing counters on the second level. It is very spacious inside, and very bright as well because the entire building taps a lot on natural light. They have this amazing aluminium louvres on the top so they can reflect an optimum amount of sunlight into the building to save energy
And here is a photo showing the magnificient computer-controlled skylighting system! There are little peforated panels hanging under the skylights to ensure that natural light is diffused efficiently throughout the terminal
On of the most ground-breaking feat of the construction of this terminal is that they’ve fused nature and technology together, although both of them seems to be antagonistic of each other in our eyes. They’ve got this 300m long Green Wall with 25 species of creepers on it, to provide temperature moderation and a breath of fresh air for arriving tourists
And back to the entrance of the airport, you’re greeting with greeny palms and crystal clear glass panels! The designers took into account clarity as part of the terminal’s design – to make as little visual obstruction as possible by using high tensile strength, tamper-resistance glass panels. The total gross floor area of the terminal can over 63 football fields, even though the entire structure only sit on a site of 10 football fields.
