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125 architectural concepts have been received for the international design contest of the new airBaltic terminal organized by the Latvian national airline airBaltic. The airline is presenting 10 of the shortlisted architectural concepts for a public vote.
Bertolt Flick, airBaltic President and Chief Executive Officer: “As a result of this contest we aim to satisfy twin objectives – a functional, efficient and comfortable terminal and an architectural design that reflects the unique face of Latvia. ”
The architectural concepts can be viewed and voted for at airBaltic Wingtips blog at blog.airBaltic.com the deadline for casting a vote is November 5, 2010. The designs are presented without author information, observing the same principle of anonymity that applies to all architectural concepts assessed by the international jury of experts.
The purpose of this international contest is to invite architects to create an innovative architectural and functional concept for the new terminal. The winning first stage design/concept would be used in a subsequent second stage with a view towards eventual delivery of the terminal complex. Architects were invited to create their concepts for a terminal with capacity of around 7-8 million annual passengers (14 million eventually) on a designated vacant site at Riga airport. Architects from 70 countries in the world indicated interest in the contest.
The submitted architectural design concepts are assessed by a jury of internationally recognized professionals, local dignitaries and airBaltic management.
The jury is made up of a number of distinguished participants, including British architect Marcus Lee, who designed Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London and has received the Stirling Award for the design of the airport in Madrid. He is joined by Irish engineer Dervilla Mitchell, who also worked on Terminal 5 at Heathrow, Swedish architect Ake Bejne, who is a former chairman of the Swedish Architects Association, Dace Putnina, the founder and co-owner of the KUBS architectural firm, Janis Dripe, the chief architect of the city of Riga, and Bertolt Flick, President and CEO of airBaltic.
The contest is being managed on behalf of airBaltic by Ove Arup and Partners, one of the world’s largest engineering firms, from their offices in London.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
