China’s Yantai, France’s Marseille, Japan’s Kansai, And The United States’ Portland Vie For 2025’s Most Beautiful Airport Terminal At The Prix Versailles Award

Friday, July 25, 2025

The world of aviation is evolving rapidly, and airports are nary longer conscionable hubs for recreation – they are becoming architectural landmarks that specify nan civilization and invention of their respective cities. As travelers progressively activity comfort, efficiency, and beauty successful their airdrome experiences, a prime group of terminals has stood retired for their design, functionality, and biology sustainability. In 2025, nan prestigious Prix Versailles Award for airdrome terminals will admit immoderate of nan astir singular airdrome buildings successful nan world. These nominees are redefining nan rider acquisition done cutting-edge architecture and thoughtful design, blending modern exertion pinch section taste influences. Let’s return a person look astatine immoderate of nan astir beautiful and innovative airdrome terminals nominated for this year’s award.

Introduction: Transforming nan Airport Experience

Airports are nary longer conscionable places to drawback a flight; they person go captious spaces that bespeak nan personality of their regions, lend to sustainable municipality design, and heighten nan recreation acquisition for millions of passengers each year. In 2025, six singular terminals from crossed nan globe person been nominated for nan Prix Versailles, an grant recognizing outstanding architecture and interior creation successful airports. These terminals are known not only for their beauty but besides for their committedness to enhancing nan environment, promoting section culture, and offering seamless connectivity to world destinations.

The Prix Versailles, awarded by UNESCO, judges each terminal connected various criteria, including design, efficiency, and its reflection of nan section civilization and identity. This year’s nominees correspond a wide spectrum of architectural styles and technological innovations, from sustainable designs that minimize biology effect to futuristic buildings that usage precocious materials and smart technologies. For travelers and aviation enthusiasts alike, these terminals connection a glimpse into nan early of aerial recreation infrastructure, wherever functionality, comfort, and artistic entreaty harmoniously coexist.

Yantai Penglai International Airport (YNT/ZSYT), China

Opened successful 2015, Yantai Penglai International Airport serves arsenic a captious proscription hub successful Shandong Province, China. Its Terminal 2, which opened successful 2023, has been nominated for nan Prix Versailles for its unsocial creation that celebrates nan earthy beauty of nan coastal metropolis of Yantai. Spanning 167,000 quadrate meters, nan terminal’s creation is inspired by nan adjacent Kunyu Mountain, creating a striking ocular relationship betwixt nan airdrome and nan landscape. The E-shaped terminal allows for an abundance of earthy ray to flood nan interior, enhancing nan rider acquisition pinch unfastened spaces and a relaxed atmosphere.

The terminal’s sustainable creation minimizes its biology footprint, while its multi-level atrium facilitates soft rider movement. It includes a nonstop railway connection, 9 elastic boarding gates, and premium lounges equipped pinch showers, gourmet dining, and business zones. Yantai Penglai International’s Terminal 2 is an exemplary exemplary of modern airdrome design, blending earthy elements pinch precocious exertion to present a world-class acquisition for travelers.

Marseille Provence Airport, Terminal 1 (MRS/LFML), France

Marseille Provence Airport, located successful nan vibrant confederate region of France, unveiled its caller Terminal 1 successful 2024, offering a modernized recreation acquisition that reflects nan city’s rich | maritime heritage. The terminal’s heart-shaped creation maximizes abstraction while minimizing nan footprint connected nan surrounding environment. Inspired by nan vessel houses of Marseille’s Old Port, nan terminal’s wood and solid facades create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, while earthy ray flows freely into nan building.

One of nan astir notable features of Terminal 1 is its usage of sustainable materials. The terminal is constructed pinch 70% recycled alloy and wood, reducing nan biology effect of nan building process. Inside, travelers tin bask a assortment of shops, restaurants, and a luxurious lounge for premium passengers. With its eco-friendly creation and seamless integration into nan city’s taste fabric, Marseille Provence Airport’s Terminal 1 stands arsenic a exemplary of sustainable architecture successful nan aviation industry.

Roland Garros Airport, Arrivals Terminal (RUN/FMEE), Réunion Island

Located connected nan tropical land of Réunion successful nan Indian Ocean, Roland Garros Airport serves arsenic nan gateway to this French overseas department. The airport’s caller arrivals terminal, which spans 13,000 quadrate meters, was designed pinch sustainability successful mind. The bioclimatic building utilizes earthy sunlight and ventilation, reducing nan request for aerial conditioning and creating a comfortable situation for passengers.

In summation to its biology considerations, nan terminal’s creation incorporates section materials and craftsmanship, pinch 91% of nan activity connected nan building being carried retired by section businesses. The terminal is surrounded by greenery, and automatic louvers set to nan perspective of nan sun, ensuring a pleasant ambiance passim nan day. Roland Garros Airport’s arrivals terminal exemplifies really airdrome creation tin merge section civilization and biology sustainability while providing a affirmative first belief for visitors arriving successful Réunion.

Kansai International Airport, Terminal 1 (KIX/RJBB), Japan

Kansai International Airport, located connected an artificial land disconnected nan seashore of Osaka, is 1 of Japan’s busiest and astir iconic airports. Terminal 1, primitively built successful nan 1990s, precocious underwent a important description , completing 25% much abstraction successful clip for nan 2025 World Expo. The terminal’s creation has been updated to bespeak nan latest successful Japanese architectural aesthetics, incorporating section materials and a streamlined, businesslike layout.

The description includes caller amenities specified arsenic a smart queue guidance system, which enhances nan airport’s operational ratio and rider flow. Kansai Airport’s Terminal 1 is simply a striking blend of cutting-edge creation and accepted Japanese influences, offering passengers a uniquely modern yet culturally resonant experience. The terminal’s extended renovations and modern updates spot it among nan apical contenders for nan Prix Versailles successful 2025.

Portland International Airport (PDX/KPDX), United States

Portland International Airport is known for its eco-friendly attack and its integration pinch nan city’s earthy landscape. The airport’s recently renovated main terminal, which opened successful 2024, draws inspiration from Oregon’s rich | wood ecosystems, creating an immersive acquisition that brings nan outdoors inside. Designed pinch sustainability astatine its core, nan terminal features biophilic elements, including extended views of forested areas and ample earthy light.

The building materials utilized successful nan terminal are originated from wrong a 500-kilometer radius, supporting section businesses and reducing nan c footprint. The creation besides emphasizes efficiency, ensuring a soft travel of passengers while maintaining precocious biology standards. Portland International’s main terminal combines innovative design, sustainability, and section charm, making it a starring contender for nan Prix Versailles grant successful 2025.

San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1 (SFO/KSFO), United States

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 1 of nan largest and busiest airports successful nan United States, serving arsenic a awesome hub for some home and world flights. Terminal 1, which underwent a awesome renewal and reopened successful 2024, has been nominated for nan Prix Versailles for its striking creation and sustainable features. The terminal includes 25 caller boarding gates and emphasizes power efficiency, pinch a creation that reduces c emissions by 79% and power usage by 59%.

A standout characteristic of Terminal 1 is its committedness to creation and culture, exemplified by nan SFO Museum, nan world’s only accredited depository wrong an airdrome terminal. The terminal’s creation besides pays tribute to nan LGBTQ+ community, pinch elements that grant Harvey Milk’s bequest of inclusivity. With its blend of modern design, sustainability, and taste significance, San Francisco International’s Terminal 1 is simply a premier illustration of really airports tin usability arsenic taste landmarks.

Conclusion: The Future of Airport Design

The six airdrome terminals nominated for nan Prix Versailles successful 2025 correspond a divers array of designs, each reflecting nan unsocial taste personality and architectural imagination of their locations. From nan earthy beauty of Yantai’s coastal landscapes to nan sustainable invention of Portland and San Francisco, these terminals group a caller modular for what airports tin be. As recreation continues to evolve, these singular terminals punctual america that airports are much than conscionable transit points—they are gateways to caller worlds and experiences. The winners of nan Prix Versailles will nary uncertainty animate early airdrome designs and redefine nan measurement we deliberation astir aerial recreation infrastructure.