PROJECT: ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
Winner of the international
architectural competition to design the new arrivals terminal at Vilnius
Airport, the project by Zaha Hadid Architects represents a significant
milestone in the airport's long-term strategic plan to accommodate predicted
growth in passenger demand and strengthen Lithuania's position as a leading
gateway in the Baltic region.
Supporting the recent completion of the airport’s
departure terminal, the new arrivals terminal will enable the airport to serve
up to 10.6 million passengers annually, meeting continued growth in demand for
air travel.
ZHA's design draws from Lithuanian cultural heritage,
incorporating traditional motifs and art forms within a contemporary
architectural language. The terminal's modular geometry originates from the
rhombus, a triangular shape that holds significant meaning in Baltic folklore. Aligning with the Vilnius Sustainable Urban Mobility
Plan, the new arrivals terminal prioritises seamless passenger connectivity
with the airport’s existing facilities. The terminal’s interiors reference
Lithuanian sodai straw gardens, hanging ornaments with triangular geometric
structures associated throughout the region with well-being and celebration.
Évoquant l'immersion dans le sodai traditionnel,
le toit plissé du terminal, recouvert de bois issu des forêts locales, définit
les intérieurs et reflète les géométries délicates et interconnectées de cet
art. Des puits de lumière rhomboïdaux et triangulaires intégrés au toit
inondent l'intérieur de lumière naturelle tout en soulignant la structure
unique du terminal. Evoking the experience of being immersed within
traditional sodai, the terminal’s pleated roof finished in timber from local
forests defines the interiors and reflects the art form’s delicate,
interconnected geometries. Rhomboid and triangular shaped skylights
incorporated within the roof flood natural light throughout the interiors while
also expressing the terminal’s unique structure.
This modular roof structure ensures the new arrivals
terminal can support advancing aviation technologies and future passenger
demand while maintaining the highest performance efficiency. Targeting an 'Excellent’ BREEAM rating, the arrivals
terminal incorporates passive design features mitigating heat gain in summer
while encouraging heat retention in winter. A high-performance double-insulated
glazing system is combined with hybrid natural ventilation and smart building
systems that learn to predict daily passenger flows, automatically adjusting to
reduce energy consumption.
On-site energy generation will be provided from
approximately 13,000 m² of new solar panels installed on the roof of the
arrivals terminal and surrounding ancillary buildings. The design also
incorporates rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, and greywater
recycling via a system of natural water filtration and storage for reuse.
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects Design: Patrik Schumacher ZHA Project Directors: Gianluca Racana, Ludovico Lombardi, Michele Salvi, Cristiano Ceccato (Aviation Director) ZHA Project Associate: Davide Del Giudice ZHA Project Architects: Luca Ruggeri, Cristina Barrios Cabrera (ZHA Aviation team) ZHA Project Team: Maria Lagging, Gizem Muhtaroglu, Louai Jaber, Sevval Alp ZHA Sustainability Team: Bahaa Alnassrallah, Abhilash Menon, Aleksander Mastalski, Jing Xu, Shibani Choudhury, Disha Shetty, Aditya Ambare ZHA Space Planning Team: Ulrich Blum, Danial Haziq Hamdan ZHA Modelmaker: Adam Twigger ZHA Acquisitions: Marcella Fedele, Lenie Metse. Consultants Engineering: Tyrens Lithuania, Tyrens Sweden, Tyrens group (international) Visuals: Negativ – Brano Marsalek
