Aluminium-clad terminal defines MAD’s newly finished Lishui airport after 17 years

The wait comes to an end after 17 long years. With precise planning and construction, MAD Architects, in eastern China, has finally completed the Lishui Airport project. The project began back in 2008 and is located in a low mountain and foothill valley just southwest of Lishui city. The project involved an extensive land reclamation, where the construction process demanded significant earthworks, with some areas experiencing cut-and-fill differences of up to 300 feet.

Stretchability of the airport

The terminal floor area spans nearly 120 thousand square feet alongside 8 aircraft parking bays. Given it is still in its initial phase, the airport is capable of holding up to one million passengers each year, along with a cargo capacity of 4 thousand tonnes.

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Design of the exterior

The airport is beautifully designed, which complements the surrounding landscape. The terminal is shaped to follow the natural contours of the site, featuring a gentle slope that helps to blend seamlessly with the terrain. The double-layered roof, covered in sleek silver-white aluminium panels, gives the building its distinctive silhouette, all supported by 14 elegant, umbrella-shaped columns. Additionally, a spindle-shaped skylight lets in natural light, brightening up the interior spaces.

Design of the interior

The terminal is designed with a one-and-a-half-story layout, alongside a spacious entrance hall, which has a double-height ceiling, seamlessly connecting the arrivals area on the ground floor to the departure lounge above, making it easy for passengers to move around and enjoy a sense of openness. The floor-to-ceiling curtain walls offer stunning views of the nearby mountains, while the varied ceiling heights and thoughtful acoustic treatments help create a comfortable and controlled atmosphere inside.

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Right below the terminal, there’s a sunken parking structure that melds well with the natural landscape. A beautifully landscaped central promenade meanders under the building, leading travellers right to the departure hall. The design represents forward-thinking, allowing for future growth, with ambitious plans aiming for a passenger capacity of 1.8 million by 2030 and even up to 5 million by 2050, which includes space for an international terminal.

Leader’s thought

Ma Yansong, Founder of MAD, stated, "We used materials with warm tones and natural textures to create a bright and airy interior. By adopting a one and a half story layout, the airport remains compact, while supporting daily comfort and engaging in a dialogue with nature."

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