Foster+Partners and Buro Happold consortium has won the competition to design a new CPK (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny) airport between Warsaw and Łódź in Poland.
Described as a “pivotal project”, the new transportation hub will act as a symbolic gateway to Poland, which will become a 21st-century transport interchange that brings air, rail, and road together. Also, the project will reflect the country’s national identity and provide an exceptional passenger experience.
Grant Brooker, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “We are proud and excited to be chosen by CPK as the designers of this project. In collaboration, we will work together to create a model for the future of totally integrated transportation design. We believe that this project will completely revolutionize travel across the country and beyond. The vision of woven architectural form is deliberately and strongly expressed. It could shape the building and guide the passengers through its spaces, while also serving as a powerful symbolic reference to Poland’s rich cultural heritage and the united strength of its people.”
CPK airport’s vision includes a landside interchange plaza animated by lush greenery and flooded with natural light. Before traveling or welcoming visitors, people would gather in this dynamic area. The plaza connects three major modes of transportation: air, rail, and road.
The area serves as the scheme’s focal point and may aid in the transition to more efficient and sustainable modes of transportation. The plaza would also be able to accommodate emerging technologies in the future. One of the design concepts is a simple, continuous vaulted roof that intuitively directs passengers from the plaza to the aircraft.
The CPK airport will initially serve up to 40 million passengers before seamlessly expanding to reach the 65 million passenger target by 2060.
