Barajas Airport (Terminal 4)

Image: Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA

Location: Madrid, Spain

Receiving an upgrade and opening in 2006, Terminal 4 of Barajas Airport is located on the outskirts of Spain’s capital, Madrid, and was designed by architects Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers. The terminal was designed to guide passengers on their journey through the building, and features a sequence of vast ‘waves’ made of prefabricated steel as a roof.

Image: dalbera (flickr)

This roof is supported by ‘trees’ that allow natural lighting into the the upper level of the terminal; this design also provides shade during the capital’s hot summers. The overall impression of the terminal is direct and functional, whilst still adding a creative element with splashes of bold red and yellow to add a sculptural feel.