The project designed by MAD Architects highlights the characteristics of a mountain airport and seeks to inspire tourism under the premise of respecting the original place while guaranteeing accessibility. The construction of Lishui Airport will be completed and operational by the end of 2024.
"Lishui is a garden city and its airport should also be in a garden. As a municipal airport, Lishui Airport embodies the essence of transportation facilities as a public space, prioritizing convenience, human scale and city identity over size and extravagance."
Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects.
Rendering. Lishui Airport by MAD Architects.
Covering 2,267 hectares of land with a maximum filling height difference of nearly 100 meters, the airport adopts a large silver-white hanging roof that resembles a white-feathered bird ready to fly. The bird-like shape absorbs elevation changes and merges the airport with the mountains, making the airport a spiritual landmark in the region.
Internally, a warm wood-toned finish and a shuttle-shaped skylight facilitate energy efficiency and create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The one-and-a-half-story terminal project optimizes passenger flow, with departure facilities located on the ground floor and waiting areas located on the second floor. A central landscaped path in the sunken parking lot further enhances space and passenger connectivity.
Anticipating the city's future growth, the airport project accommodates increasing passenger numbers, forecasting 1.8 million passengers by 2030, 5 million by 2050 and an additional international terminal in plan.
