China’s Lishui Airport, designed by MAD Architects, is nearing completion and is scheduled to open by the end of 2024. The airport’s design emphasizes harmony with nature, reflecting Lishui’s reputation as a “forest city.” Spanning 2,267 hectares, the airport features a 12,000 square meter terminal that seamlessly integrates with the natural terrain.
The airport’s construction involved leveling up to 100 meters of elevation to create a terraced structure, incorporating the terminal, parking, and offices on descending platforms. This layout preserves the natural contours while ensuring functionality. The terminal features a distinctive silver-white aluminum roof, supported by 14 umbrella-shaped columns, designed to convey a sense of lightness and elegance.
A 30-meter cantilever shelters a bright, welcoming concourse illuminated by a central skylight. Inside, warm wood tones and human-scaled interiors offer a comforting environment. The concourse height varies between 4.5 and 13 meters, aiming to enhance the balance between openness and intimacy. The airport’s design emphasizes connectivity, with a landscaped walkway seamlessly linking parking and terminal areas.
Initially accommodating one million passengers annually, the airport includes three boarding bridges and five remote stands. Future expansions plan to handle 1.8 million passengers by 2030 and up to five million by 2050, with provisions for an international terminal.
“Lishui is a garden city, and her airport should also be in a garden. It is not just about size but about convenience, humanity, and a dialogue with the natural environment,” said Ma Yansong, Founder of MAD Architects.
Set to redefine regional air travel, Lishui Airport captures a vision of sustainable, human-centered infrastructure in harmony with its surroundings.
Image courtesy: archdaily.com
