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Georgia's Kutaisi Airport Taps UNStudio for Terracing Expansion Just 4 Years After its Opening

Less than five years after the opening of Georgia’s Kutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport, rapidly increasing usage (from 12,915 passengers a year in 2012 to more than 300,000 in 2016) has prompted the airport to begin plans for an expansion that could serve as many as 1,000,000 passengers by 2020.

To achieve these goals, the airport has returned to the architects who designed the original structure, UNStudio (with local architects Artstudio Project), to develop a unique airport concept featuring terraced waiting areas and a rooftop viewing garden.

Georgia's Kutaisi Airport Taps UNStudio for Terracing Expansion Just 4 Years After its Opening - FacadeGeorgia's Kutaisi Airport Taps UNStudio for Terracing Expansion Just 4 Years After its Opening - FacadeGeorgia's Kutaisi Airport Taps UNStudio for Terracing Expansion Just 4 Years After its Opening - FacadeGeorgia's Kutaisi Airport Taps UNStudio for Terracing Expansion Just 4 Years After its Opening - FacadeGeorgia's Kutaisi Airport Taps UNStudio for Terracing Expansion Just 4 Years After its Opening - More Images+ 4

Kutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport / UNStudio

Kutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport / UNStudio - Airport, Facade
© Nakanimamasakhlisi
Kutaisi, Georgia

Kutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport / UNStudio - AirportKutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport / UNStudio - AirportKutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport / UNStudio - Airport, Facade, Chair, Table, BenchKutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport / UNStudio - Airport, Beam, LightingKutaisi ‘King David the Builder’ International Airport / UNStudio - More Images+ 11

In Progress: New Parliament of Georgia / CMD Ingenieros

In Progress: New Parliament of Georgia / CMD Ingenieros - Image 14 of 4
Courtesy of CMD Ingenieros

Architects: CMD Ingenieros Location: Kutaisi, Georgia Year of Construction: 2011-2012 Design Team: Alberto Domingo Cabo – PhD in Structural Engineering , Carlos Lázaro Fernández – PhD in Structural Engineering, Juliane Petri – Civil Engineer. Master’s Degree in Land Use Planning, Francisco Palacios Climent – Civil Engineer Client: Kutaisi City Hall Surface: 45,000 sqm Budget: 82,000,000 € Photographs: Courtesy of CMD Ingenieros

In Progress: New Parliament of Georgia / CMD Ingenieros - Image 17 of 4In Progress: New Parliament of Georgia / CMD Ingenieros - Image 13 of 4In Progress: New Parliament of Georgia / CMD Ingenieros - Image 16 of 4In Progress: New Parliament of Georgia / CMD Ingenieros - Image 12 of 4In Progress: New Parliament of Georgia / CMD Ingenieros - More Images+ 13

Kutaisi Airport / UNStudio

Kutaisi Airport / UNStudio - Image 6 of 4
© UNStudio

We are continually impressed by the variety of projects from UNStudio’s office. The firm just unveiled a new vertical city highrise for Singapore previously featured on AD, and recently, the Dutch studio’s international air terminal and traffic control tower for Kutaisi was officially presented by Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia. The country is growing quickly and changing rapidly, with new tourist and economic activity, plus different political developments. As such, the design for the new airport seeks to showcase Georgia new identity by providing a contemporary gateway to the country.

More about the airport after the break.