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Projects

Airport

Jordan

Foster + Partners

2013

Queen Alia International Airport / Foster + Partners

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Architects

: Foster + Partners

Location

: Amman, Jordan

Collaborating Architect

: Maisam - Dar Al-Omran JV

Project Year

: 2013

Photographs

: Nigel Young / Foster + Partners

Manufacturers

: Euramax, Kingspan

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The airport has a highly e!icient passive design, which has been inspired by local traditions, and is
based on a flexible modular solution that allows for future expansion the new building secures the
citys position as the main hub for the Levant region and allows the airport to grow by 6 per cent per

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annum for the next twenty-five years, increasing capacity from 3.5 million to 12 million passengers per
annum by 2030.

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In response to Ammans climate, where summer temperatures vary markedly between day and night
time, the building is constructed largely from concrete, the high thermal mass of the material providing

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passive environmental control. The tessellated roof canopy comprises a series of shallow concrete
domes, which extend to shade the facades each dome provided a modular unit for construction. The
domes branch out from the supporting columns like the leaves of a desert palm and daylight floods the
concourse through split beams at the column junctions. Echoing the veins of a leaf, a geometric pattern
based on traditional Islamic forms is applied to each exposed so!it. The complex geometry of the roof
shells and fabrication strategy was developed in conjunction with Foster + Partners in-house geometry
specialists.

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XPS | Owens Corning

About

Two piers of departure gates run along either side of the central building, which contains the main
processing areas and shops, lounges and restaurants. Between these volumes, open-air courtyards a
feature of vernacular architecture in the region contribute to the terminals environmental strategy:
the plants and trees help to filter pollution and pre-condition the air before it is drawn into the air
handling system and reflecting pools bounce indirect natural light into the airport.

The terminal is glazed on all sides to allow views of the aircra" on the apron and to aid orientation.
Horizontal louvres shade the facades from direct sunlight to eliminate glare, the louvres become
concentrated in more exposed areas close to the columns. The concrete structure incorporates local
gravel to reduce maintenance requirements and the embodied energy of the material, and to
harmonise with the natural shades of local sand.

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Amman is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world the airports design resonates
with a sense of place and local architecture, particularly in the domed roof, which from the air echoes
the black flowing fabric of a Bedouin tent. There are also references to the Jordanian tradition of
hospitality in celebration of the custom for family groups to congregate at the airport, the forecourt
has been enlarged to create a landscaped plaza with seating, shaded by trees, where people can
gather to bid farewell or welcome returning travellers.

Mouzhan Majidi, Chief Executive, Foster + Partners:

Queen Alia International Airport has been an extraordinary project it has transformed Amman into a
niche hub, while o!ering critical growth for the wider economy through regional links. The new
terminal building is energy e!icient, will accommodate phased expansion and provides a dynamic

symbol for Jordan. Our early involvement from the conceptual design stage, supporting the selection
of operators, and through detailed design and work on site has involved many of our specialist inhouse teams, from architects to climate analysts, space planners and geometry specialists. It has been
a pleasure to work with our Jordanian colleagues and the team at AIG, and it is great to see the results
of this work come to life today"

 Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Nigel Young / Foster

Level 01 Floor Plan

Level 02 Floor Plan

Level 03 Floor Plan

Roof Plan

Section

Section

Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.

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Product:
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Cite: "Queen Alia International Airport / Foster + Partners" 25 Mar 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed 7 Dec 2016.
<http://www.archdaily.com/349464/queen-alia-international-airport-foster-partners/>

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Shades - Motorized Solar Shades

by SWFcontract

Suspended Ceilings - Eurospan

ceiling system

Pilkington

Springs Window Fashions

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jprati 2 years ago

Beautiful project. Definitely see the Saarinen inspiration here. I think I would only like it
more if the concrete could have been whiter, and possibly an oculus at the top of each
dome.

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Mhamad Riyad > jprati 3 months ago

that's exactly what i was thinking, they could make the concrete brighter by
adding titanium oxide to the cement, it will look a lot better

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Salah 4 years ago

mmm looks good :) but layout is very similar to Kuwait international Airport and Beijing
Airport,,
But I think Beijing is the best.Thank you

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Ben 4 years ago

Amazing project! Congratulations Norman Foster

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Richard Peck 4 years ago

Very cool. Attuned to its locale. A billowing desert tent

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shadi ossaili 4 years ago

it's a very nice project , well done !

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