According to a government official, Leandro V. Locsin & Associates (LVL) architecture firm, which was awarded the contract to redesign the terminal building two years ago, will remain as the Architect of Record for the conceptual design of the ‘Greeters area.’
As per an informal agreement worked out between the three parties, Locsin will focus on strengthening the airport’s structural formations while Cobonpue will work on the interior aesthetics.
The interiors by Cobonpue will feature lighter materials with a contemporary Filipino, tropical feel as opposed to the 1980s design of the current terminal.
The design plans also feature open tent, café, and small restaurants and landscaping.
“We made this design because we believe that no matter how beautiful our country is, our airports give the first and last impressions,” Cobonpue said on his Facebook page two years ago.
Cobonpue, which offered to do the design work for free, had a fall-out with the Filipino government earlier, when the Department of Transportation and Communication chose Locsin over them in 2011.
An international travel site rated Ninoy Aquino International Airport among the “world’s worst airports” in 2011 due to overcrowding and hygiene issues.
The government has set aside a sum of P2.8b ($2.1b) for an extensive refurbishment of the 67,000 sqm building which handles 7.5m passengers a year in a stark contrast to the original capacity of 4.5m, reports Rappler.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will now go ahead with the bidding for the role of general contractor.
