MAD Architects has unveiled the completed Lishui Airport in China, a masterwork of design that seamlessly integrates with its mountainous surroundings. This expansive 2,267-hectare airport is characterized by its distinctive silver-white, feather-like roof, which appears to float above the landscape, harmonizing with the natural contours of the terrain. The project exemplifies a commitment to human-centered design and a deep respect for the environment, promising both aesthetic beauty and functional efficiency.
Lishui Airport: A Symphony of Design and Nature
In the picturesque foothill valleys of Lishui, China, the visionary team at MAD Architects has brought to life the remarkable Lishui Airport. Completed recently, this architectural marvel covers an impressive 2,267 hectares, with its terminal artfully embedded into the mountainous landscape, accommodating a nearly 100-meter elevation change. The most striking feature is its vast, silver-white roof, crafted from lightweight aluminum panels and supported by 14 elegant, umbrella-shaped columns. This design evokes the image of a majestic white-feathered bird ready for flight, symbolizing lightness and grace.
A dramatic 30-meter cantilever extends from the entrance, ushering travelers into a concourse bathed in natural light, fostering an immediate sense of openness and welcome. The interior continues this theme of natural integration with wood-toned finishes and a unique “one-and-a-half-story” layout, offering spaces that range from intimate to expansive. A central skylight ensures the terminal's interior is consistently illuminated by daylight, enhancing the overall passenger experience. The thoughtful arrangement of arrival and departure zones optimizes passenger flow, prioritizing convenience and efficiency.
Connecting the parking facilities to the terminal is a beautifully landscaped walkway, further solidifying the airport's connection to its environment. Equipped with three boarding bridges and five remote stands, Lishui Airport is initially designed to serve one million passengers annually. However, its forward-thinking structure allows for significant future growth, with plans to expand capacity to 1.8 million passengers by 2030 and an impressive five million by 2050. Provisions for an international terminal are also in place, ensuring the airport's adaptability and relevance as the region develops. As Ma Yansong, the founder of MAD, aptly puts it, the airport embodies an attitude of seeking convenience and humanity, fostering a profound dialogue with the natural environment rather than pursuing monumental scale.
Lishui Airport stands as a testament to the power of design to blend seamlessly with nature while serving modern needs. Its thoughtful integration into the landscape, combined with its human-centered approach and future-proof design, offers a refreshing perspective on airport architecture. This project inspires us to consider how infrastructure can not only facilitate travel but also enhance our connection to the natural world, creating spaces that are both functional and aesthetically enriching. It challenges us to imagine transportation hubs as extensions of their environment, rather than isolated concrete behemoths, paving the way for more sustainable and harmonious urban development.