The Psychology Of Airport Terminal Design

"If you think of airport terminals as little more than people-moving machines, then most work well. But if you think of airport terminals as places, not machines, then most don't offer much.

In the end, making the terminal a place where you'd want to spend time goes against the grain of typical terminal design. For years designers have been building airport terminals as cold places where you don't want to linger. Ever see a terminal with wood floors or nice carpeting, comfy chairs or a bar with live entertainment? New terminals are almost universally filled with carpeting so ugly that stains blend in, or shiny granite floors that reflect shop signs. They have acres of glass that give an attractive openness -- but also suggest that you're trapped in a fishbowl."

[Editor's note: The link below is available for non-subscribers for a period of 6 days.]