ABSTRACT
The rapid development of air travel has meant that buildings have swiftly become obsolete and needed either replacement or reconstruction. Airports are ideally placed to serve as major transport interchanges, serving heavy rail, metro, high speed rail and coach services, acting as an inter- connected multi-modal transport hub. Major airport terminals require large multi-runway airfields. The challenge for terminal buildings is to exist within these complex environments and remain accessible, functional and amenable for passengers and staff. There are two main types of airport: point to point and Hub. There are two major influences on airport and terminal size: passenger demand and airline traffic scheduling. Many if not most airfield configurations are pre-existing or re- configured as a legacy from earlier times. Emblematic shapes, evocative geometries, all seen from the air, do become indelible images representing particular airports. Key factors influencing configuration type may be: physical space, airfield needs, economic, and flexibility.
