MAD Reveals 'Floating Feather' Airport Design

MAD's press release about the competition win contends that future passengers “will be greeted by the terminal’s unique fan-shaped profile that resembles a floating feather.” Why a floating feature? It is “a nod to the airplanes that will be ascending and descending from its terminals throughout the day.” The same statement from the studio also points out that Changchun, in China's Jilin Province, is surrounded by “forests that are well-known as the most significant in the northeastern of China.” Perhaps the trees in those forests also inspired the design's form, which is best grasped from above, where vistas of the forest can also be had. 

Nature as a source of inspiration is reinforced by MAD further stating that “the terminal also reflects the charm of Changchun as a ‘Garden City’ through the creation of what the design team has referred to as a ‘garden airport.’” The future terminal will feature trees, water, meadows, and undulating terrain outside, while the interior will have an system of indoor gardens with trees, groundcover, and water. The feather form and natural features in MAD's design, combined with other recently designed airports such as BIG and HOK's mass timber-framed terminal at Zurich Airport, point to a trend of softening the edges of airports. Such designs give the impression that the majorly polluting industry is ”green," but they also point to the creation of terminal spaces that are comfortable and that people won't mind waiting in.

Visit the profile of MAD Architects to see more images of Changchun Airport Terminal 3 and read more about their winning design.