Red Sea Airport
Middle East & Africa
View Project
Bahrain International Airport Terminal
- Location
- Bahrain
- Client
- Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) Bahrain Airport Company (BAC)
- Services
- Interior Design, Wayfinding
- Sector
- Aviation + Transport, Retail
- Collaborators
- Engineer: Aeroport de Paris Ingénierie (ADPi)
- Accreditation
- LEED Gold
- Size
- 9.7 mppa, 200,000m²
A boutique airport interior rooted in Bahraini culture.
The new terminal at Bahrain International Airport at 210,000 square metres, is four times the size of its predecessor, with capacity for 14 million passengers per year. The terminal achieved LEED Gold certification on completion, making it the largest certified green building in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Like the country itself, the airport is small by regional standards but is distinct in character, deliberately positioned as a boutique alternative to the mega transit hubs of the UAE and Qatar. Benoy was appointed by Bahrain Airport Company to deliver the interior design and wayfinding of the public spaces.
The design hinges on a series of gateways and portals that create ‘moments’ as passengers travel through the terminal. Backlit limestone and alabaster entrance portals – a modern interpretation of a historical Bahrani architectural form – flank the arrival. Gateway moments continue throughout, including lounges, media zones, children’s play areas, prayer rooms and relaxation spaces.
Referencing the local vernacular
Feature architectural elements were crafted with a traditional sense of place in mind. Large wooden cylinders cutting through the departure and arrivals hall, draw from the local basket weaving heritage; an expansive louvered ceiling evokes waves. The material selection is inspired by the Bahraini sand and sky, reimagined as wavy ceiling baffles, perforated metal panels and timber ceiling panels across the terminal zones. Combined with directional tiled floors, the ceilings help to guide passengers intuitively through the airport.
