Following an international design competition, Softroom was commissioned by Turkish Airlines to create 19,000 sqm of lounges within the new Istanbul Airport, which are placed high-up on the central axis of the building and act as a centrepiece of the terminal. The client required an iconic design for their lounges that symbolizes their seamless passenger experience and so the architects developed a ribbon-like wall that unites all the disparate spaces and activities. The Flow Wall is over a kilometre long, making it one of the longest parametric interior forms in the world. It provides the visual signature that weaves through the six new lounges, creating a series of connected areas that cater for the differing needs of passengers. It was designed and installed in less than seven months.
The wall is immediately identifiable from the entrance, highlighting the prime location of the Turkish Airlines’ lounges; it then shifts and changes as it moves through the airport to accentuate various functions, forming high peaks and narrow bands to guide passengers in a manner that transcends language barriers. At the lounge front desk, the iconic Turkish Airlines logo punctuates the installation, which then leads passengers up to a calm refuge at the centre of a busy airport. The wall flows through the reception area and then into the main space, which becomes a hub for access to many different zones. Inspired by the Turkish capital, this light-filled interior space feels more like an open-air courtyard than normal passenger enclosure.
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