Zagreb, Hrvatska

Zagreb Airport

In August 2008 Grimshaw were invited to take part in an Architectural Design and Urban Planning Competition for a new passenger terminal at Zagreb Airport, Croatia. The airport aims to promote Croatia’s status for its expected integration into the European Union.

Croatian society is Mediterranean, outgoing and welcoming with the outdoor cafe close to its soul. A public plaza at the heart of the masterplan reflects and encourages this social ritual. The plaza is flanked by the terminal building, the hotel and a stone screen to the multi storey carpark. The fourth side is open and faces the canopied bus station and a civic atmosphere is created by raising this plaza above surrounding ground level. Vehicular access to the bus station, car parks and taxi waiting area is all at ground level. This traffic system was configured in order only cars and taxis need to cross the plaza as they drop off and collect passengers. The Airport city buildings however are reached via a separate two-way estate road, together with the terminal service bay. Integrated accommodation is arranged such that it also benefits from an extension to the raised pedestrian plaza level.

For simplicity and legibility the plaza, arrivals hall and departures hall are all at one level, with the departures lounge on a mezzanine above and service areas, baggage hall and bus lounges below. There is no basement. The departure lounge is approached via escalators and lifts through a large void in the mezzanine slab beyond the security area. Should an international or domestic airport be required then the passport control desks facing the smaller pier could be relocated to face the larger pier. Our design also includes spatial allowance for a 10 million passenger airport which may either be a new construction or as modification to “soft zones” within the first phase.

The architectural forms of the building sculpturally evoke Croatia’s Dinaric Karst topography, which we believe is an important element of visual identity for the country. Externally the paved ground plane of the public plaza is indented with landscaped recesses and small stepped meeting places. The towering naturally lit funnels set in the interior ceiling plane share the same aesthetic. Very occasionally massive tapering columns connect these two planes in the manner of stalactites. Combining aesthetics with very clear technical functions has resulted in a dynamic and unique building.

The airport will benefit from a temperature system inspired by the Karst Caves which will see a 40% reduction in energy use. The design also maximises the potential of natural light and minimises long term running costs.

CREDITS

ARCHITECTURAL TEAM:
Alexander Baumen-Lyons, Amanda Bate, Eric Osborne, Eva Kirschstein-Freund, Jean Luc Milis, Karl Kjelstrup-Johnson, Lucas Tizard, Marek Stawiany, Neven Sidor, Paolo Vimercati, Paul Kardous, Pier-Luigi del Renzio, Simon Moore, Thomas Cartledge, CONSULTANTS:
Airport Consultant:
Buro Happold
Structural Engineer:
Adam Kara Taylor
Services Engineer:
Buro Happold
Traffic Planner:
Buro Happold
SUB CONTRACTORS:
Baggage and checkin Systems:
Buro Happold
Docking:
Buro Happold
Apron Layout:
Buro Happold

Europaconcorsi Beta

Zagreb Airport