Hanimaadhoo Airport / Haptic Architects + Narud Stokke Wiig Architects

Aug 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Architecture News ,Infrastructure , Haptic Architects, Narud Stokke Wiig Architects, The Maldives

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Those flying to the Maldives, a nation in the Indian Ocean comprised of amazing coral islands, will be welcomed by a gently undulating airport designed by UK based Haptic Architects and Norway based Narud Stokke Wiig Architects. The firms have collaborated to create this curvaceous terminal that sits in the lagoon so as not to detract from any of the islands’ beautiful coasts.

More about the airport after the break.

“Our proposal for Hanimaadhoo Airport aims to create a functional and efficient airport while preserving the natural shape and white coastline of the island. We believe our strategy will emphasize and advertise the unspoilt natural qualities of the Maldives,” explained Narud Stokke Wiig Architects.

The site strategy places the runway and the taxiway on the far north and east of the Island, with free space around the southern part for the future development of hotels, resorts, and retail.

The terminal itself has a dramatic timber diagrid roof with a highly insulated skin. Solar panels are mounted on the roof and the design also includes passive strategies, such as proper orientation and rainwater harvesting, to preserve the natural essence of the islands and “promote the Maldives as a sustainable and environmentally conscious destination,” added Narud Stokke Wiig Architects.

As seen on Inhabitat. Renderings produced by Imaging Atelier

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "Hanimaadhoo Airport / Haptic Architects + Narud Stokke Wiig Architects" 05 Aug 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 23 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/72129>

Comments (9)
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Fidel says:

Good luck with the wooden structure: next to the sea and tropical sun and humidity…

# August 6, 2010 at 02:58

Jaumoonlin says:

Very impressing. Never, never take any blessing for granted…

# August 6, 2010 at 03:01

Seamus says:

This seems like nothing special for an airport. It looks just like every other one, just a glass structure with a curved roof. The only interesting thing about it is it’s placement on water. Apart from that, no innovation.

# August 6, 2010 at 07:11

Chris says:

Why do all buildings near water have to be wavey? one day we will have wavey architecture coastlines.

# August 6, 2010 at 07:26

Daniel says:

“…preserving the natural shape and white coastline of the island.”

By smacking a big clam building right in the sea? Riiiiiggghhhttttt…….

# August 6, 2010 at 07:56

freq says:

I don’t see the “wood problem”.. as if this building would be naturally ventilated, eh? xD

And even if.. Glulam is pretty resilient. Why else would it be used in highly corrosive environments, such as swimming halls brimming with hot chlorine air? :D

# August 6, 2010 at 09:28

rad says: