AirportCity

AIRPORTCITY, AMSTERDAM AIRPORT SCHIPHOL

Amsterdam's airport has more than tripled its capacity in the past 20 years. The airport is now an airport city. Benthem Crouwel NACO was co-author of the masterplans to develop it and is responsible for the urban design, the complex of terminal buildings and the piers. All designs take clarity of organization as their stepping-off point. Boarding, arriving and transferring take place under one roof. The arrival and departure halls are spacious with an abundance of daylight and have good public transport connections. Transfer traffic, larger aircraft and longer walking distances have brought further shops, restaurants and other facilities in their wake. There are plenty of surprise elements to counter the restrained and efficient airport architecture, places where travellers can take time out and get their bearings. A case in point is the branch of the Rijksmuseum in one of the lounges.