Chapter 4 Draft
4.0 Analysis of The Architectures & Interior Designs of The Airports
4.1 Evolution and Changes in The Exterior of The Airports
Figure 16 Subang Airport Exterior
Back in 1960’s, the old portal frame warehouse concept of Subang Airport (Figure 16) was built using a generous amount of concrete as it was durable and concrete can be easily found abundantly in that era. As a passive design strategy, the overall massive structure of the airport with graceful arches and roof structure that was supported by the columns can the reduce the island heat effect and improving air quality by allowing the cool air ventilate the space below the roof structure. Hence, the comfortability of the travelers can be increased due to the natural air ventilation and protection from the sun. Moreover, a massive spiral ramp that connects the ground floor and first floor was built to provide accessibility to the disabled and at the same give off a grand and huge impression to the travelers. The spiral ramp also eases the burden travelers to carry or pull their heavy luggage between the two floors.
Figure 17 Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was then built in the late of 1990’s and due to the advancement of technologies and building construction, the architecture and design of the airport are more conceptualized and variety of materials with the addition of green features were used to improve the overall experience of the travelers. Designed by Kisho Kurokawa, the concept of “Airport in A Forest, Forest in A Airport” was implemented in the airport architecture and design (Hanif Kara, 2007). The impressive architecture of the airport was built in Sepang, which surrounded by a forest and palm tree plantation and this helps to reduce the sound pollution due to aviation at the same time providing fresh cool air to the airport. The overall exterior forms of the airport are derived from the local palm tree with the mixture of local Malay architecture style such as Islamic domes (Hanif Kara, 2007) and this gives off an impression of the speciality of local identity and traditional architecture to other overseas travelers.
Due to the advancement of building technologies, the mixture of stainless steels structure and modern materials were created with the rendering of mosque-inspired architecture created a contrast between the lush green forest and the airport hence creating a dramatic effect on the users. In addition, the uses of stilts with organic design of roof structure can reduce the heat of the drop-off area and also provide a better ventilation. The stilts opened up the spaces and allow the breeze to ventilate the drop-off and pick up area hence provide a comfortable temperature and cool air to the user. Based on the survey conducted, 40.3% of the users have strongly agreed that the spaces are comfortable and well ventilated with natural ventilation.
Figure 18 Glazed Glass Facade
The facade (Figure 18) was designed with symmetry rational grids and glazed Low-E glasses to provide a better view of the lush green exterior and also reduce the interior temperature by blocking the direct sun glares into the building. Thus, the users can experience a better comfortability with cold temperature and also enjoy the green exterior with relaxing mind. Compared to Subang Airport, KLIA used extensive of glazed elevation and skylights at the drop-off and pick up point to allows more natural lighting instead of using artificial lighting as a part of the green passive design. The warm natural lighting with natural ventilation allows users to have a stress free mind while preparing to travel. More than 50% of the users found that the temperature in the airport is more comfortable compared to Subang Airport based on the survey conducted.
Figure 19 Subang Skypark After Refurbishment in 2009
After the refurbishment of Subang Airport Terminal 3 in 2009, the old warehouse appearance of Subang Airport was changed into an aeronautical aesthetic theme which resembles the flow of a departing aircraft (HL Design Group, n.d.). Using the new materials and technologies, the simple, bold and dynamic lines of the white composite aluminium panels give off an essence of aviation (HL Design Group, n.d.). The lighting effects in the night give off an impression and experience to users that they looking at a plane taking off due to the aerodynamic forms designed in addition to adding aesthetic value to the overall simple industrial-look building. However, no skylights or Low-E glass were used to incorporate the natural daylight or reduce the heat in the spaces compared to KLIA and KLIA2. The extensive clear-span canopy with its slender support also allows users to have shelter from the hot and humid climate with cool air ventilation along the check-in hall and drop off or pick up point. Even though refurbishment has been done to improve the comfortability and experience of the users, some users found that the refurbishment was not successful as the bad thermal comfort and noise pollution due to aviation are not properly solved and considered in the design.
Figure 20 Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (Figure 20) was built as a contemporary structure with simple and clean lines compared to KLIA which shows more local Malay Architecture style. The airport implemented the concept of simple folding planes in the design of the building envelope which the roof canopy was built with aeronautic forms with a clean curve and simple lines. Similar to Subang Skypark, this design gives the users an experience of looking at a lifting canopy and plane take off instead of just columns carrying the weight of the structure. However, the bold and simple lines were designated to suit the local hot and humid climate as the arch form of roof structure promotes natural ventilation by utilizing the laminar airflow over its surface to its surrounding. However, some users found that the temperature at the drop-off area and transportation hub is hot and not well ventilated due to heat released from vehicles and local hot climate.
Figure 21 Monochromatic Finishing of the Airport
Compared to KLIA, KLIA2 has a monochromatic finishing (Figure 21) of the exterior with light-weighted and durable materials such as steels structure provides a modern and aesthetically pleasing looks to the users. The roof also equipped with insulation and reflective materials to reduce the heat and solar gain with an addition of the use of light colour to make the airport looks more brighter and welcoming. Based on the survey conducted, 56% of the users agreed that the ambience at the drop-off point and main entrance of the terminal are warm and welcoming with a comfortable temperature. However, the transportation hub is not welcoming and dark as its located on the lower ground with less natural lighting and dim artificial lighting is provided.
Figure 22 Glazed Low-E Glass
The curtain wall of the Gateway KLIA2 and main terminal was equipped with glazed Low-E glass to reduce the direct sun glare and the loss of cool air in the interior. The curtain wall also allows natural daylight to penetrate into the interior and provide a comfortable and relaxing ambience to all the users. Similar to KLIA, KLIA2 had implemented the extensive use of skylight in the design as passive green strategies to allow more natural lighting and saving the costs of artificial lighting.
4.2 Evolution and Changes in The Interior of The Airports
Figure 23 Subang Skypark’s Terminal
Figure 24 KLIA’s Terminal
As a regional airport, Subang Skypark’s terminal (Figure 23) built in a small scale compared to KLIA and KLIA’s terminals. The interior of the Subang Skypark was refurbished into a more conceptualized, modern, user-friendly and lifestyle-driven with all accommodation for the convenience and ease of users (HL Group Design, n.d.) with a variety of retails and experience cluttered in one space. The interior was rearranged and refurbished by developing and creating a new mezzanine floor in a well-lighted high ceiling single atrium (HL Group Design, n.d.). The mezzanine floor provided more spaces for retails and also airline offices which can enhance the shopping experience of the user and also easily get purchase or getting the information from the airline offices. Moreover, the high interior ceilings provide a sense of freedom and stress-free environment which makes users feels uncluttered in the spaces. In addition, the wide walkways gave prominence to spaciousness as users can freely walk around the open spaces while shopping or heading to the departure hall.
Figure 26 Suspended Ceiling
The suspended ceiling (Figure 26) with fibre optic lighting produced starry night effects that can enhance the user experience by providing a relaxing and nice ambience while shopping or walking in the airport hence reducing the stress of the user. To reduce the noise pollution due to aviation, perforated metal panels were used in the interior to allows users to travel and shops in a quiet space without disturbing or irritated the mind of the user. The simple and plain colour of porcelain ceramic tiles were used abundantly as it can reduce the heat of the interior spaces and keeping the interior cool all day long hence enhancing user’s comfortability.
Compared to Subang Airport, KLIA and KLIA2 main terminals are more focused on the design and organization of the departure and arrival halls. KLIA main terminal consists of six levels which the departure for both domestic and international flights are located at the highest level. The grand departure concourse (Figure 24) was designed with distinctive materials of ceiling and floor to reflects the local identity and also functioned as passive design strategies to improve user’s experience. The design of the high ceiling is emphasized on the hypar roof shell that was connected together using open triangular keel trusses and glazed glasses with the wood finishing steel plate panels. The high ceiling design was also incorporate with the skylights to allow maximum natural lighting and provide a stress-free environment in the uncluttered and spacious terminal building.
Moreover, multicoloured granite flooring was used instead of using plain ceramic flooring as granite flooring provides thermal comfort as it is an excellent heat sink and makes the building cooler in addition of showing the motif of local traditional weaving patterns to overseas travelers.
Figure 27 Observation Deck with Playground
The speciality of KLIA’s main terminal building compared to Subang Skypark and KLIA2 was the observation deck (Figure 27) that was connected to the departure concourse and located above of the contact pier. The observation can be accessed via a bridge with stainless steels structure and glasses to provide the view below. This provides an experience for the user who sends off their family members at the airport as family member or friends can track along their friends or relatives who checked in and passed through the security pass via the bridge on contact pier to the observation deck. On the observation deck, users also can have a memorable and fun experience of the view of the plane landing and take off with seating area and playing areas provided for the kids while waiting for their flight.
Similar to KLIA, KLIA2’s main terminal building design emphasized on the structure of roof that was supported by the exposed pin-jointed raking tubular columns to represent the tropical rainforest tree structure in an abstract manner but simultaneously protrudes a high technology image. The use of glazed glasses facade and skylights were also implemented to allow more natural lighting into the space. The high ceiling design was supported by columns with aluminum panels which provides a sense of freedom for travelers and tend to explore more in the grand and spacious spaces of retails.
The terminal consisted of three levels with departure hall located at level 3 and arrival hall located at level 2. However, the design of the main terminal building of KLIA2 is much more simple and modern with clean and bold lines compared to KLIA. Based on the survey conducted, some travelers prefer the design of KLIA’s terminal as it’s more interesting and the natural view of forest outside provides a soothing and relaxing emotion while some travelers prefer the modern and contemporary style of KLIA2.
Figure 28 Mini Landscape
As a green airport, landscape mini garden with seating areas was designed along the walkway opposite of the main entrance of the terminal building. The mini garden helps travelers to improve their mood from stress and anxious mind to a more calm, refreshing and balanced mind before travelling. To provide more aesthetic value in the terminal building, the concept of local tropical rainforest was implemented and mainly used on the structure of baggage check-in counter with artificial light illumination. The round design of the structures will leave a local identity impression to the travelers as it was different from other countries airports.
Figure 29 Observation Deck
In contrast to the observation deck of KLIA which is located indoor and air-conditioned, the observation deck and smoking areas of KLIA2 are located at the outdoor area and surrounded the main terminal. Travelers can experience and enjoy the view of the runways and planes before check-in or leave the airport but under the hot sun glare without any shading or protection provided.
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