IKIA (Imam Khomeyni International Airport) Pilgrimage Terminal

Competition Description IKIA Pilgrimage Terminal design competition commenced with 5 invited practices including 4 local consultants with GMP architects. ABNIEH TARAHAN ALBORZ (ATA) Consulting Engineers + NEGIN SHAHR AYANDEH Architects (Architectural joint venture) was announced as the 1st prize of this competition by jury. Project Requirements -Designing a Terminal in International Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran -1,600,000 annual passengers -4 accompanies per passenger -3 receptionists per passenger -2 air bridges supporting six hundred-passenger flights at the peek time. -The airports physical program is as follow: -48000 sqm Gross area including Departure (18000 sqm), Arrival (17000 m2) and the Service zones (13000 m2). -2000 cars Parking lots capacity Design Ideas International airport terminals are one of the most critical buildings in each country, as they are the first place to be visited by the tourists and passengers. International terminals, thereby, express the identity of the country in which the airport is located. On the contrary, this terminal attempts to express the identity of the destination, as it is a platform from which passengers travel to a sacred destination for solely religious purposes. Considering to terminal design methodology and the purpose of HAJ (Muslim’s pilgrimage), there are some spatial and functional ideas for the terminal designing: 1. Spatial interaction The volume of the terminal has been divided in two parts. Northern part , including public areas with multiple floors, has been separated from southern HAJI’s (pilgrims’) area. southern section of the building has been oriented toward KIBLAH, the direction toward which Muslim prays. It benefits from very hight ceiling reinforcing spatial quality of the interior spaces. The gap between these two main sections, allow for natural day-light penetration into the building. this has been improved by placing triangular openings on the roof. Shadows casted by the openings define the direction of the Kiblah( destination) . 2. Purity and simplicity Minimal aspect of design without any extra decorations is one of the most important ideas to have mystical ambiance over terminal space. Shape of envelop has been inspired from EHRAM which is the pilgrim’s white dress. It is comprised a pair of folded surfaces, separating internal from public spaces. 3. Transparency The terminal spaces have been designed to maximize the transparency and view, from the from the entrance to the exit gates and vice gate. It allows the visitors to find their way to the exit for arrivals and to the gates for departure passengers.