Changi Airport is the front door of Singapore, and the facility is continuously modernized in the image of the garden city state itself. Changi has for many years been voted the world’s best airport in user surveys, and is anxious to remain top with respect to other massive airport modernization projects, such as Osaka’s Kansai, and Hong Kong’s Chep Lap Kok. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is expanded the airport with both an ambitious new terminal T3 and an extensive upgrading of existing T2. HDA were appointed by CAAS on the T2 refit with a further 20000m², departure hall leaf canopies and cantilevering glass fins with Gensler of San Francisco, in collaboration with the local architects RSP. The Gensler design concept is based on a bold expression of glass through a series of large glass canopies, a new departure hall ceiling and a new airside extension façade as well as a general interior refit of the building. The glass elements are exploited to animate the terminal with both natural and artificial light making extensive use of fritted, translucent and etched glass. The extensive use of glass involves careful consideration of glare and local OTTV energy issues in the context of the strong sun of Singapore. The land-side canopies use fritting and translucent glass to provide both a diffuse light source for the departure drop - off zone as well as shading for the adjacent check in areas. The glass fin brocing the landside façades give the glass a structural expression with 5 m cantilevering fins and patch supported glass using cast fittings. The airside extension façade, giving a direct view to the apron uses bowstring mullions to minimize structure and provide support for sun shade louvers.
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Changi International Airport T2, Singapore
HDA role : Facade and Structure Consultant