Opened in 1962, the former TWA Flight Center terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport is still considered an architectural marvel. Yet it wasn't designed to handle larger aircraft or higher volumes of passengers that came with the modern boom in air travel.
TWA terminal at JFK International (New York) —
Opened in 1962, the former TWA Flight Center terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport is still considered an architectural marvel. Yet it wasn't designed to handle larger aircraft or higher volumes of passengers that came with the modern boom in air travel.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
From an aesthetic point of view, the former TWA terminal remains a beautiful and inspiring building.
TWA terminal at JFK International —
From an aesthetic point of view, the former TWA terminal remains a beautiful and inspiring building.
courtesy Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
"Skyline of the World" is a 121-meter-long mural by New York artist Matteo Pericoli that combines New York landmarks with iconic buildings from around the globe. It can be seen at the American Airlines terminal at New York's JFK Airport. <br />
Matteo Pericoli mural at JFK —
"Skyline of the World" is a 121-meter-long mural by New York artist Matteo Pericoli that combines New York landmarks with iconic buildings from around the globe. It can be seen at the American Airlines terminal at New York's JFK Airport.
courtesy matteo pericoli
Architect Richard Rogers brought beautiful changing colors to Madrid-Barajas Airport in Spain, especially in the main terminal's departures area (pictured).
Madrid-Barajas Airport (Spain) —
Architect Richard Rogers brought beautiful changing colors to Madrid-Barajas Airport in Spain, especially in the main terminal's departures area (pictured).
Courtesy AENA
Light comes through large skylights into the circulation systems at Madrid-Barajas Airport's check-in and departures area.
Madrid-Barajas Airport —
Light comes through large skylights into the circulation systems at Madrid-Barajas Airport's check-in and departures area.
Courtesy AENA
London-based Foster + Partners won the competition to design the Beijing airport's international terminal, completed in time for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Beijing Capital International —
London-based Foster + Partners won the competition to design the Beijing airport's international terminal, completed in time for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Courtesy Nigel Young/Foster + Partners
It's now the second busiest airport in the world, with more than 86 million passengers passing through in 2014.
Beijing Capital International —
It's now the second busiest airport in the world, with more than 86 million passengers passing through in 2014.
Courtesy Ma Wenxiao
Architect Renzo Piano won a competition in 1988 to design an airport on a man-made Japanese island near Osaka that didn't yet exist. (It does now.)
Kansai International (Osaka, Japan) —
Architect Renzo Piano won a competition in 1988 to design an airport on a man-made Japanese island near Osaka that didn't yet exist. (It does now.)
Courtesy Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Kansai International Airport was completed in 1994.
Kansai International —
Kansai International Airport was completed in 1994.
Gilbert Dennis/ViewPictures
American firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill married the nomadic tradition of desert tents with enormous modern architecture at King Abdulaziz International Airport's Hajj Terminal in Jeddah.
King Abdulaziz International (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) —
American firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill married the nomadic tradition of desert tents with enormous modern architecture at King Abdulaziz International Airport's Hajj Terminal in Jeddah.
Courtesy Jay Langlois/Owens-Corning Fiberglass
The roof design of King Abdulaziz airport's Hajj Terminal is reminiscent of the traditional desert tents once used to shelter pilgrims as they made their holy journeys across the desert.
King Abdulaziz International —
The roof design of King Abdulaziz airport's Hajj Terminal is reminiscent of the traditional desert tents once used to shelter pilgrims as they made their holy journeys across the desert.
Courtesy Jay Langlois/Owens-Corning Fiberglass
American firm Fentress Architects' design of Raleigh-Durham International Airport's Terminal 2 welcomes travelers coming to North Carolina.
Raleigh-Durham International (North Carolina) —
American firm Fentress Architects' design of Raleigh-Durham International Airport's Terminal 2 welcomes travelers coming to North Carolina.
Brady Lambert/Courtesy Fentress Architects
The design of Terminal 2 makes use of wooden trusses, glass and natural light. The rolling roofs are inspired by North Carolina's Piedmont hills.
Raleigh-Durham International —
The design of Terminal 2 makes use of wooden trusses, glass and natural light. The rolling roofs are inspired by North Carolina's Piedmont hills.
Paul Dingman/Courtesy Fentress Architects
Architect Rafael Vinoly is responsible for the swooping design of Aeropuerto de Carrasco in Montevideo, Uruguay, which opened in 2009. It has the capacity to handle three million passengers a year.
Aeropuerto de Carrasco (Montevideo, Uruguay) —
Architect Rafael Vinoly is responsible for the swooping design of Aeropuerto de Carrasco in Montevideo, Uruguay, which opened in 2009. It has the capacity to handle three million passengers a year.
Daniela Mac Adden/Courtesy Rafael Viñoly Architects
The building covers more than 45,000 square meters. Generous use of glass and the sweeping curves of the roof create feelings of airiness and space.
Aeropuerto de Carrasco —
The building covers more than 45,000 square meters. Generous use of glass and the sweeping curves of the roof create feelings of airiness and space.
Daniela Mac Adden/Courtesy Rafael Viñoly Architects