What are the 12 most beautiful airports in the world?

News on June 5, 2017: There are many airports with great sense of design appearing all over the world. Recently, a website selected the 12 most beautiful airports in the world. From Denver to Mumbai to Osaka, airport architecture continues to be taken to new heights.

The Baku International Airport terminal in Azerbaijan’s capital features a giant wooden cocoon building, designed by Turkish architecture studio Autoban.

Each wooden cocoon houses cafes, bars, shops and amenities such as children’s play areas. The diamond pattern on the atrium floor is made of wooden veneers that mimic wooden cocoons. The airport's annual passenger throughput can reach more than 5 million.

Denver International Airport

The architectural design of U.S. airports is often unsatisfactory, but Denver International Airport’s fabric-covered tent-like canopy design has become a highlight.

The design is modeled after Colorado’s snow-capped Rockies, and these tent-like designs look striking at any time of day, especially at sunrise and sunset. Their soft glow is particularly captivating.

The airport has recently added a Westin hotel, and passengers can also take the train directly from the airport to downtown Denver.

Madrid Barajas Airport

Barajas Airport is only 12 kilometers from the center of Madrid. In 2006, architect Richard Rogers participated in the design and upgraded the airport, doubling its size.

The unique wavy roof, supported by central pillars, absorbs natural light during the day. A departure from the standard grays and whites used in most airport color schemes, bright reds and yellows convey a warm and welcoming atmosphere. And the roof also provides necessary shading for Madrid’s hot summers.

Kansai International Airport

In order to alleviate the overcrowding situation at Osaka International Airport, Kansai International Airport was put into use in 1994. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the airport was built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. It is the world's first "sea" airport, with a daily passenger throughput of 100,000.

The super-long terminal of Kansai International Airport was the longest terminal in the world when it was built, stretching 1.7 kilometers, with 42 gates and a large curved roof in the shape of an airplane wing.

The structure was specially designed to withstand frequent earthquake disasters in Japan. Four months after it was put into use, the airport withstood the 6.9-magnitude Kobe earthquake with only minor damage.

Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing International Airport’s Terminal 3 was built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It is about 2 miles long and is one of the largest buildings in the world. Designed by the British architectural firm Foster Partners, it uses traditional Chinese colors of red and yellow and a dragon-shaped structure.

The total area of ??the terminal building and transportation center reaches 1.3 million square meters and will be able to accommodate 50 million passengers per year by 2020.

Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the new Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai Terminal 2 opened in 2014. A massive roof that references traditional Indian pergola structures is the centerpiece of the design.

There are 30 columns connected to the roof, and the pattern is partly inspired by India’s national bird, the peacock. SOM also strives to respect local cultural traditions and has reserved a spacious drop-off area next to the terminal, because according to traditional Indian customs, many relatives and friends often welcome and see off guests to express their blessings.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is one of the largest airports in Asia. It was designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. Giant columns support an Islamic-style sunshade.

The roof is also reminiscent of a common tree found in Malaysian rainforests, with lights on the canopy representing the sunlight shining through the leaves.

The designer's "Airport in the Forest" design shows how modern designs such as stainless steel shell roofs can be integrated with cultural traditions. The airport also has a series of prayer rooms.

Marrakech Menara Airport

The terminal expansion project at Marrakech Menara Airport in Morocco was designed by the E2A architectural team of Swiss Architects and completed in 2008. The airport features an ornate facade, with light filtering into the interior from an arabesque pattern of 24 diamond-shaped and 3 triangular glass windows.

Kutaisi International Airport

Kutaisi International Airport in Georgia was designed by the Dutch architectural firm UNStudio. Architect Benvan Berkel used a structure with long spans, open spaces and high ceilings.

To help passengers find their way around the airport, a bright red corner design was used to serve as "a point of intersection and identification." The large window design creates a light-filled interior environment, and passengers can also enjoy the view of the Caucasus Mountains through the windows.

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is the first airport project designed by Roman architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas. The new Terminal 3 overlooks like a bat Ray.

The three-story lobby and roof are wrapped and covered by a double-layer skin system. The honeycomb-shaped metal and glass panels on the skin system form a uniform lattice. This allows natural light to filter in, while a honeycomb-like design and futuristic white tones are used throughout.

St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport

St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport was completed in 2014 and is expected to transport 12 million passengers per year. London architect Grimshaw designed a flat roof that can withstand the weight of heavy snowfall. Underneath the roof is a series of folded surfaces that help distribute weight to different parts of the structure.

Golden metal panels on the interior reference the gilded spires of St. Petersburg churches, with light fixtures arranged along the folded areas of the panels. Skylights provide light and help guide passengers within the terminal, visible through the gaps between the panels.

Queen Aliyah International Airport in Amman

Inspired by Bedouin tents, Queen Aliyah International Airport in Amman, Jordan features a unique concrete dome designed by Foster Partners. A concrete canopy in a checkerboard pattern extends across the entire terminal and hangs from the facade to provide shade from the intense sunlight.

The dome stretches outward from the support columns to resemble the leaves of a desert palm tree, and its brown and cream tones harmonize with the surrounding desert environment. Each dome is a construction module, which will allow the airport to expand in the future.