
first image
'pulkovo aiport' by grimshaw architects, st. petersburg, russia
image © grimshaw architects
the 'pulkovo airport' by international practice grimshaw architects is the first piece of a sustainable master plan that will serve as a gateway between
st. petersburg and the rest of the world. the first phase of the project will transfer 12 million travelers and will be finished in 2013, while the second
phase is expected to be completed in 2015 and by then will accommodate 17 million people. the concept of the airport took form from the layout
of the city. separate bays are connected by bridges, as buildings are connected across the river, and have an open view down to the lower arrival
floor, connecting those leaving and those going. the strategy helps bring closure to the journey that begins and ends in the same structure when
visiting the area. regularly spaced columns with branching steel trusses make rhythmic bays that effectively transfer snow loads. the structure of the
canopy then protrudes into the space, so the visitor is allowed to appreciate its character which peels back at certain points to open skylights.
all the aspects of the terminal in some way reflect the nature of its host city, such as the reflective golden ceiling like the cathedral domes and angular
geometries seen throughout the russian designs.
construction process and walkthrough
video © grimshaw architects

golden reflective ceiling amplifies light
image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

bird's eye view
image © grimshaw architects

facade and roof construction
image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

concrete columns support the metal truss roof system
image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

interior
image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

skylights
image © grimshaw architects

image © grimshaw architects

soffit design
image © grimshaw architects

canopy detail
image © grimshaw architects

exploded detail
image © grimshaw architects

canopy exploded
image © grimshaw architects

light deflector detail
image © grimshaw architects