ABSTRACT

This is the first book to comprehensively cover the evolution of airport design, from the start of commercial aviation in 1919 to the present day. Many books have been written about airport design at a particular moment in history, but none have rigorously considered why, where, when and how the ideas we now take for granted originated.

This book traces the history of airport design considering the philosophies adopted by designers, the functional layouts they have developed and the resultant form of the airport through a series of 40 case studies divided into 7 eras of approximately 20 years each. The themes include:

  • The philosophies underpinning airport design
  • The evolution of design responses
  • How airports have avoided obsolescence
  • Identification of the key turning points
  • The evolution of master plans and terminal concepts in response to increasing traffic volumes
  • The future of airports in terms of environmental sustainability and the Covid-19 hiatus

The case studies are international, covering the USA, Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Spain, United Arab Emirates, China, Turkey, Mexico, Australia and Poland. They are illustrated with full colour, many of which have not been published before and form part of an incredible graphic package. This book is essential reading for architects, engineers, planners and environmentalists alike.

chapter Chapter 1|8 pages

Introduction

chapter Chapter 2|9 pages

Experimental Period 1904–1919

chapter Chapter 3|59 pages

Pioneering Era 1920–1939

chapter Chapter 4|41 pages

Evolutionary Phase 1940–1959

chapter Chapter 5|71 pages

Jet Age 1960–1979

chapter Chapter 6|55 pages

Transfer Interchange 1980–1999

chapter Chapter 7|57 pages

Mega Hub 2000–2019

chapter Chapter 8|22 pages

Future Developments

chapter Chapter 9|4 pages

Conclusion