The contest named ‘Architectural Design Ideas’ has invited architects and designers for expressions of interest to be part of this terminal project. The focal point of the contest is to explore design concepts, both architectural and functional, that best capture the aspirations and brand identity of airBaltic. Designers should aim at creating a unique identity for both the airline and the city of Riga.
Bertolt Flick, airBaltic president and executive director stated that since the capacity of Riga International Airport is exhausted, a new terminal is needed urgently. The international architecture contest is aimed to attract an innovative architectural and functional concept for the new terminal.
The winning first stage design/concept would be used in a subsequent second stage with a view towards eventual delivery of the terminal complex. Architects are invited to create their concepts for a terminal with capacity of around 7-8 million annual passengers – 14 million eventually – on a designated vacant site at Riga airport. Architects from 70 countries in the world indicated interest in the process.
A jury of internationally recognised professionals, local dignitaries and airBaltic management will assess the submitted architectural design concepts by mid-October 2010.
The jury comprises of a number of distinguished participants, including British architect Marcus Lee, who designed Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London and has received the Stirling Award for the design of the airport in Madrid. He is joined by Irish engineer Dervilla Mitchell, who also worked on Terminal 5 at Heathrow, Swedish architect Åke Bejne, who is a former chairman of the Swedish Architects Association, Dace Putnina, the founder and co-owner of the KUBS architectural firm, Janis Dripe, the chief architect of the city of Riga, and Bertolt Flick, president and executive director of airBaltic.
The contest is being managed on behalf of airBaltic by Ove Arup and Partners, one of the world’s largest engineering firms, from their offices in London.
