architecture ASIA - Issue 4 / October 200 - December 2007

Topic : focussing on showrooms

Page : 032 - 037


Tirana International Airport
Main Terminal Building including commercial landside piazza and viewing platform, for a capacity of 1.5 million passengers per annum, includiing baggage unlaodiing areas, outdoor smokingzone and a children's playground. The service Block contains power generation, sprnkler tanks, chiller plant and condensers.

Covered carparking for 250 cars linked to walkways and coach/taxi lanes. Uncovered car parking 210 cars. Landside Landscaping and new access roads.

The dominating frontage of the main terminal building is the result of inverting the conventional appraoch of the section of the building - high landside and a low airside as opposed to a high airside and a low landside. The result is a spectacular view of the entire roof framing from outside in during late afternoon when lighting conditions permit. The trussed zoned roof extends on either side of the building to shelter departure and arrival piazzas, widening the building and making the impresion of a large bi-plane that has just landed.

The planning of the airport paid emphasis on the ritual of leaving, of passing through to security and then passport control. The architectural expression of that ritual was to enhance the security hall with a sub roof made from suspending two cables from rigid frames at either end. The two cables support a series of small diameter steel tubes spaced at 600 centres to form a three dimensional cage over the hallway. Blue LED lights completes the ritual walk to the airplanes.

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