Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport (International Terminal)

Image: © Kerem Sanliman

Location: Baku, Azerbaijan

Designed by Turkish architecture studio Autoban and opened in 2014, the international terminal of Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport features giant wooden ‘cocoons’ dotted along all the passenger areas of the terminal.

Image: © Kerem Sanliman

One of the most imaginative designs on our airport architecture list, each cocoon within the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport houses amenities such as cafes, bars or stores. Meanwhile, light filters through the curved glass walls that lean away from their base, and on the domed roof, hexagonal skylights allow in extra natural light. Throughout the terminal, the tiled floors mirror the overall aesthetic.