foster + partners makes strides in completing the techo international airport in cambodia

Cambodia’s techo international airport by foster + partners

Foster + Partners showcases the progress the design team has made in completing the new Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The architecture firm aims to position the airport as one of the most important public buildings in the country, playing a significant role in Cambodia’s tourism and economy. The Techo International Airport, located 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh, is a modular construction designed to be expanded.

The first phase of the airport terminal includes the central headhouse and the aerofoil wings to the north, capable of accommodating up to 13 million passengers annually. Subsequent phases will focus on the second aerofoil wing, designed to accommodate 30 million passengers. Stefan Behling, the Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, states that the new Techo International Airport will be a crucial part of Phnom Penh’s ongoing development as the nation’s primary inter-regional, inter-modal transport hub.

images by Foster + Partners

grid shell construction supported by structural trees

For the design of the Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Foster + Partners draws inspiration from the nation itself, considered one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. The design also considers the tropical climate, resulting in a terminal building led by a central head house with two aerofoil-shaped piers. The structure houses all passenger processing, including security and immigration, and retail stores under a single overarching roof canopy that extends to the airside drop-off, providing expansive shelter.

While the canopying roof may appear wooden at first glance, Foster + Partners employs a lightweight steel grid shell construction, supported by structural trees spanning 36 meters. The innovative screen filters daylight, creating a well-illuminated terminal space. Varnishing and coloring will soon follow to match the wooden palette, invoking a warm and welcoming atmosphere that aligns with other light-colored interior materials, evoking the Cambodian visual language in a contemporary manner.

inside Foster + Partners’ Techo International Airport at Phnom Penh, Cambodia

onsite solar-panel farm to generate airport’s electricity

Technology is central to the Foster + Partners-designed Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, intending to make it one of the greenest airports globally. The airport aims to achieve this by powering almost the entire terminal with energy generated by an onsite solar panel farm. Rows of photovoltaic panels will produce the electricity necessary for the airport’s operations.

In addition to the solar panel farm, the design incorporates local craftsmanship and natural views. Foster + Partners plans to add greenery to the Techo International Airport, as seen in the photos, with mature trees surfacing through the central area and edge planting to soften the interiors.

Nikolai Malsch, a Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, notes that the Phnom Penh airport is inspired by Cambodia’s history and built heritage. ‘The terminal’s design stands as a modern embodiment of Cambodian culture. The Terminal roof is an expression of lightness and inherent modularity, serving as a symbolic gateway for every traveler’s journey,’ he says. As of publishing the story, there is no official announcement yet on the completion year of the project.

the canopy roof is made of lightweight steel grid shell construction