"Picture this: you're landing in one of the world's oldest civilizations, and the first thing you see isn't sterile white corridors and fluorescent lighting. Instead, you're greeted by 200 hand-crafted sculptures, including a central bronze-cast Buddha, surrounded by mature trees rising through a soaring central space. Welcome to Techo International Airport, the new gateway to Cambodia that just opened in Phnom Penh, and honestly, it might make you rethink everything you thought airports could be."
"Foster + Partners, the legendary British architecture firm, just completed what could be one of the most sustainable airports in the region. The building features a curved steel structure wrapped in lattice panels that mimics something you'd never expect in an ultra-modern transportation hub: a tree canopy. And not just any trees, but structural trees spanning 36 metres that support a lightweight steel grid shell, creating this incredible sense of being sheltered by nature itself."
"What makes this airport absolutely fascinating is how deeply it's rooted in Cambodian culture. The undulating roof form references Cambodia's temples and palaces, while 180 skylights and a latticed soffit inspired by traditional basket weaving diffuse daylight across the interior. It's like the designers took the essence of ancient Khmer architecture and translated it into a contemporary language that feels both timeless and cutting-edge. The warm interior materials evoke that traditional vernacular style, but in a way that doesn't feel like a theme park version of history."
Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh blends Khmer cultural motifs with contemporary sustainable engineering. Foster + Partners designed a curved steel roof wrapped in lattice panels and supported by 36-metre structural trees that create a canopy-like interior punctuated by mature trees and 200 hand-crafted sculptures. Daylight is diffused through 180 skylights and a latticed soffit inspired by traditional basket weaving. Deep roof overhangs, native planting, and an on-site photovoltaic farm reduce cooling loads and supply nearly all energy needs. Warm, vernacular materials reference temples and palaces while delivering a modern, nature-integrated passenger experience.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
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