Abstract
What if an airport was more than an airport? Air travel has become more commonplace, with passenger demand set to double over the next twenty years. The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) forecast for passenger growth sees an eastward shift in trends with the biggest driver of demand originating from the Asia-Pacific region, specifically within developing markets. Plans are coming along for the creation of air travel hubs in developing countries to better link their smaller cities, but under tight fiscal constraints (think budget airports). What if airports could be more than just a place to catch planes, and in bigger airports, attend meetings or do some shopping. They are huge investments, no matter how stripped down and utilitarian the airport itself may be. Perhaps the type of airport model that emerging markets need is not the assumed budget terminal, but something that can also provide for the local economy, just as how the surrounding village could also supplement the workforce for the airport. This thesis questions the definition and boundaries of an airport, studies existing ‘airport city’ models and seeks to propose new architectural opportunities for a redefined relationship between an airport and its surroundings. This model will be explored within an emerging market context, taking into account the inherent constraints of an airport, site considerations and budgetary constraints to suggest how a new approach to airport design can be achieved.