Kukës International Airport

Passenger access to the terminal is facilitated through the northern (departures) and southern (arrivals) facades. To ensure transparency and maximum connection with the beautiful natural landscape of Kukës, as well as to minimize the impact of the building and avoid a sense of isolation, the two main facades are constructed with maximum transparency glass walls, offering optimal views from the lobby for departures or arrivals. There are three key components that define the exterior appearance of Kukës Airport Terminal: the glass walls, which provide a seamless dialogue between the interior and exterior of the building, the steel structure, and the pitched industrial roof, an identifying element for airport terminal buildings, which gives the volumes an aerodynamic form. The design team aimed for tranquility, unity, and the ability for future expansions, utilizing structural modularity and a clear scheme. Within the project portfolio of our design studio, Kukës Airport occupies a distinctive position, not only due to its novel typology but also owing to the formidable challenge of the design task. Here, architecture is tasked with delivering a response in the face of highly stringent functional, technical, and financial constraints.