Chapter 1: Introduction

1.0  Introduction

1.1 Introduction
Airports are national vital resources as they served as main transportation of people and goods regionally, nationally and internationally. Since air travel has become a fast-growing mode of transportation locally and globally in this modern era, airport plays an important role as travelers can have a memorable experience in a comfortable and user-friendly airport while traveling. Hence, airports have evolved to become a hub other than just being an infrastructure to meet the requirements of travelers- traveling experience or retail experience. In Malaysia, all the airports are being operated by Malaysia Airports with the vision of creating an airport city by focusing on the maintenance and operations of all the airports. Malaysia Airports wholly-owned subsidiary, Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd is incorporate and responsible in managing, operating and maintaining Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and also the low-cost carrier terminal, Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) as well as the future developments of both airports. Since travel becomes such an important part of daily modern life, Malaysia Airports had considerate the architecture and conscious designs of every airport with different operating requirements to improve the airport experience of travelers.

1.2 Problem Statement
As a highly functional airport, a good spatial planning and layout design are important as this can enhance the experience of users with intuitive way-finding in the airport and also boost up the passenger flows. In addition, a poor layout design affects the user’s experience by experiencing airport delays such as slow border controls, security and passport checks. Moreover, travelers from around the world can be seen stretched out on airport floors due to flight delayed as no proper sleeping places or cot are provided in some airports. Hence, this report is written to identify how does the design and architecture in an airport influence the travel experience of the users.

1.3 Research Aims & Objectives
The report is written to identify how the architecture and interior designs of the airports chosen can improve the experience of the end users and develop a better understanding of space planning, building programme and choices of material used in the airport’s terminals by giving three examples of case studies of Malaysia Airports. Moreover, the study on the three different generations and evolution of airports is conducted to determine how they change the end user experiences.

1.4 Research Methodology
Information for the literature review is attained through journals, internet sources, and also Malaysia Airports in this report to achieve the research aim and objective of the architecture and interior designs of the airports chosen can improve the experience of the end users. In addition, three airports are chosen as case studies with photographs and observation the architectural styles, interior design, space planning and building programme. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Malaysia’s main airports and also one of the Asia’s main aviation hub and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2), Malaysia’s low-cost and full services carrier for both local and internationally airport hub are selected as case study to analyse its spatial planning and quality, architectural styles, design considerations and building programme. In addition, Subang Airport, which was once served as Kuala Lumpur’s main airport before Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang was opened in 1988 is selected to analyze the objective of this report. The overall observations and research are analyzed and compared to prove both positive and negative user experiences in airports chosen.

An online and on-site survey is conducted with the purpose of accomplishing the research objectives of the satisfaction of user experiences at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) and also Subang Airport in terms of designs, facilities, and ease of navigation in the airport. The comparison of airport experiences due to changes will be recorded and analyzed in this report.

(628 words)

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