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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Top 6 world's most beautiful airports: From design and architecture to engineering marvels; see who tops list
(AI-generated image for representation) The Prix Versailles awards has named six airports among the most beautiful in the world for 2025. Yantai Penglai International Airport in China has been declared the world's most beautiful airport of 2025 by the Prix Versailles awards. The airport's newly built Terminal 2 was picked as the global winner among the six. It stood out for its coastal-inspired design, large size, and thoughtful architecture, according to ET. Here are the top 6 most beautiful airports of 2025: 1. Yantai Penglai International Airport, Terminal 2 – Yantai, China Terminal 2 spans 167,000 square metres and is inspired by the city's maritime history. Its E-shaped layout helps with smooth passenger movement while blending with the natural surroundings. A major highlight is a large, multi-level atrium topped by a glass dome that lets in natural light. The interiors use soft curves and earthy colours to reflect Yantai's coastal environment. Designers have also added shapes that resemble wooden ship hulls, honouring the Maritime Silk Road. 2. Marseille Provence Airport , Terminal 1 – Marignane, France This terminal features a 22-metre-high hall made with 70% recycled steel and topped with skylights for natural airflow. Travellers pass through a wooden security canopy, and shop areas are also designed in timber, inspired by the boat houses of Marseille's Old Port. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paul Gascoigne's Actual House Left Us With No Words - Take A Look Ohi Blog Undo The design combines the original vision of Fernand Pouillon from the 1960s with work by Richard Rogers in the 1990s. 3. Roland Garros Airport , Arrivals Terminal – Réunion Island, France This terminal earned third place and is recognised as the world's first large-scale tropical bioclimatic airport. This airport is celebrated as the world's first large-scale tropical bioclimatic airport, using a central architectural 'canyon' and natural ventilation to manage temperature. It is built with 91% local materials and labour and prioritises sustainability in a tropical setting, according to Archinect. 4. Kansai International Airport , Terminal 1 – Osaka, Japan The airport was originally designed by Renzo Piano and is still the longest in the world. The terminal was built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, and its aerodynamic roof and recent upgrades, like natural finishes and a smart queue system, give it a modern, distinctly Japanese feel. 5. Portland International Airport , Main Terminal – Portland, United States The new main terminal at Portland International Airport opened in August 2024. It has a huge wooden roof the size of 9 football fields. Inside, it looks like a forest from the Pacific Northwest, with over 5,000 real trees and plants. The terminal uses wood from nearby areas and has big windows that let in natural light. To make travellers feel relaxed, there are even friendly llamas and alpacas you can meet. The design focuses on nature, comfort, and using eco-friendly materials. 6. San Francisco International Airport , Terminal 1 – San Francisco, United States Harvey Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco Airport is one of the greenest airport terminals in the world. It uses over 40% less energy with the help of solar panels and smart building materials. The terminal has bright, nature-inspired spaces that help people feel calm. It also has the world's first airport museum and celebrates Bay Area values like caring for the planet and including everyone. The Prix Versailles list is known for celebrating outstanding design in public buildings. This year's airport winners also include entries from France, Japan, and the United States. However, Singapore's iconic Changi Airport did not make the 2025 list. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Deccan Herald
23-07-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Maldives outreach: Advantage India
In the fierce geostrategic tussle between India and China for influence in the Maldives, New Delhi seems to have the upper hand in Malé, for now. Else, New Delhi would not have planned the state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago to participate in its Independence Day celebrations on July has been invited as a 'guest of honour' by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu after some initial hostility and turbulence in bilateral ties. It will mark Modi's first visit to the neighbouring country in six years, the last one being in June 2019 when an India-leaning government under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was in place. He will be the first head of government to be hosted by Muizzu, who took over in November visit's symbolic significance is noteworthy. To the world at large, it will signal that New Delhi, and not Beijing, remains the archipelago's preferred development partner. Muizzu, in turn, will be able to convey to his domestic audience that he's an able administrator who can deliver outcomes and draw benefits from his country's biggest renewed outreach to the Muizzu government indicates a growing confidence that the Maldives, a key maritime neighbour, will remain mindful of its strategic interests. Battling strong competition from China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), New Delhi has faced a tough diplomatic challenge to ensure it does not cede strategic space to Beijing. Like many of India's neighbours, the Maldives has joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a vital component of its Maritime Silk Road ambitions. Leaders of IOR island nations have become adept at playing the two Asian giants against one another to leverage benefits, further queering the pitch for alignment with the Quad nations – the US, Australia, and Japan – in the wider Indo-Pacific is part of its strategy to counter Beijing's expanding footprint in the IOR and beyond. India has even recast its earlier doctrine of Vision Sagar (Security and Growth for All) in the Global South as Vision Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) to widen its ambit of and visit serves as a marked indicator of this shifting tide in India's favour. There is an unmissable irony in Muizzu's invite, given that he rode to power fuelling anti-India sentiments. This campaign culminated in Muizzu forcing India to pull out its 80 military personnel in the archipelago, within a few months of becoming President. However, a little over a year later, bilateral relations are on the mend, with Modi's impending visit signalling the final reset. Muizzu was in India twice last year – for the Modi 3.0 government's inauguration and a bilateral visit. While the closeness witnessed during Ibu Solih's tenure may not be there, India has little cause for complaint. Despite Muizzu's perceived pro-China leanings, Beijing hasn't been able to make a comeback in the archipelago as was expected during his Maldives could not secure the anticipated financial assistance from China, its largest external creditor, and some Islamic countries. Consequently, Muizzu had to turn to India to navigate a debilitating economic crisis. Muizzu has also been seeking investments to promote his country as a business and financial hub. Even if this does happen, it will take time to now, the Maldives is under debt distress. Under the risk of defaulting on its external debt repayments, Muizzu's anti-India sentiments have given way to pragmatism and realpolitik as he now has to deliver results in his economically beleaguered has played its cards skilfully. It initially stepped in to assist the Solih government after the Maldives reeled under a dire economic situation during the pandemic, with its tourism-dependent economy taking a huge hit. Then, it decided to continue with its financial assistance to the Muizzu government despite initial bilateral tensions, which has helped the Maldives avoid a default on its external debt the Maldivian economy is not yet out of the woods. Muizzu still has to find ways to service an external debt of $1 billion in 2026. While India has helped out through currency swaps and rolling over of treasury bills worth $100 million, China has held back in the fear that other debt-distressed countries might also seek similar this seemingly positive outlook for New Delhi, it cannot afford to slacken its outreach to Malé. China is keenly waiting in the wings to usurp India's strategic space. India has to ensure that the Muizzu government can be relied upon to be a loyal friend in the long run..(The writer is a senior journalist)
Time Out
03-07-2025
- Time Out
The two Asian airports named among the most beautiful airports in the world for 2025
Increasingly, airports are being designed not as mere transitional spaces. Instead, they're being treated as expressions of the destination's history and culture, and as restful – even inspiring – landing points for weary travellers. Asian airports like Singapore Changi Airport and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Satellite Terminal 1, laureates on the Prix Versailles Most Beautiful Airports in the World 2024 list, certainly get it with nature-inspired interiors and culturally informed installations on every corner. This year, they pass the torch to another two Asian airports on the 2025 list of the world's six most beautiful airports. The first airport to be recognised by Prix Versailles is Yantai Penglai International Airport, your first port of call in Yantai, China. Specifically, Terminal 2 of the airport has been marked for its elegant and sweeping roofline, which evokes Mount Kunyu, a picturesque mountain range located between Yantai City and Weihai City. The entire terminal is flooded with natural light, illuminating the natural curves, tones, and materials that make up the interior. Prix Versailles also highlights reinterpreations of wooden ships' hulls within the terminal inspired by the Maritime Silk Road. Osaka, Japan is a particularly popular destination this year, with many flocking to the city for the 2025 World Expo. If you're heading down, pop into the gorgeous Kansai International Airport Terminal 1, which has just been expanded and refreshed. Its capacity has now been expanded by 25%, with a smart queue management system to help manage growing crowds. Its interiors have also undergone a makeover: natural materials in hues of brown now give the space a distinctive Japanese feel. The most beautiful airports in the world for 2025, according to Prix Versailles: Yantai Penglai International Airport, Terminal 2 – Yantai, China Marseille Provence Airport, Terminal 1 – Marignane, France Roland Garros Airport, Arrivals Terminal – Réunion Island, France Kansai International Airport, Terminal 1 – Osaka, Japan Portland International Airport, Main Terminal – Portland, United States San Francisco International Airport, Terminal 1 – San Francisco, United States
Euronews
01-07-2025
- Euronews
France, Japan, China: Where are the world's most beautiful airports
Whether dashing down corridors to reach a gate or whiling away hours during a layover, travellers are rarely inspired to stop and admire airport architecture. But an attractive water feature or a quirky ceiling can make the frustrating process of waiting for a flight a little more pleasurable. The Prix Versailles, a prestigious global architecture award, has revealed its annual list of the world's most beautiful airports. Secretary general Jérôme Gouadain emphasises how even functional spaces like departure terminals or check-in desks can benefit from thoughtful design. 'The mark left by airports stems chiefly from their ever-growing role in international exchanges. As a result, this infrastructure must resolve formidable difficulties in terms of flow management and the aircraft themselves,' he says. 'But this new brand of facilities can also be seen as works of art, or at least as things of beauty. In fact, we should strive to make this happen, given their inescapability in our built environments and our landscapes.' The award also prioritises 'intelligent sustainability' in airport design. Here are the winning airports, chosen for their 'operational, ecological and aesthetic excellence'. Nature and light fill Yantai Penglai International Airport, China First place went to Yantai Penglai International Airport's Terminal 2. Spanning 167,000 square metres, the architecture of the new building pays homage to Yantai's unique coastal landscape. Aedas, in collaboration with CSWADI and the Shanghai New Era Airport Design and Research Institute, drew inspiration from the majestic Kunyu Mountain for the terminal's sweeping roofline and undulating shapes. Its E-shaped layout was developed to optimise passenger flow and minimise the impact on the existing terrain. The curves, materials and tones of the interior draw on nature and natural light permeates the entire terminal, which can help travellers find a sense of calm. Reinterpretations of wooden ships' hulls are scattered here and there in a nod to the Maritime Silk Road. A sustainable restoration of Marseille Provence Airport, France A European airport took second place. Architects Foster + Partners recently designed a bright, new structure to unify Terminal 1 at Marseille Provence Airport in France. It includes a 22,000 square metre extension that 'conveys peace and relaxation without expanding the terminal's footprint on the ground', according to the Prix Versailles judges. This window-lined hall stands 22 metres tall and was built with 70 per cent recycled steel. The roof features a grid of skylights framed with polished aluminium, allowing for natural ventilation. The project also involved restoring 28,000 square metres of space in keeping with French architect Fernand Pouillon's original 1960s terminal and integrated with British-Italian architect Richard Rogers' development in the 1990s. Now, travellers pass through security under a timber canopy, and the spaces containing shops and restaurants - likewise made of wood - are a reference to the boat houses of the Old Port of Marseille. Glass façades provide for maximum transparency, with views of the Provençal hinterland on one side and a maritime lagoon on the other. Working with Réunion Island's weather phenomena at Roland Garros Airport The new 13,000 square metre Arrivals Terminal of Roland Garros Airport on Réunion Island takes third place as the world's first tropical bioclimatic airport structure at this scale. This technical feat was achieved by working with 91 per cent local businesses, whose expertise helped come up with the idea for a central 'canyon'. This defines both the form and function of the building and acts as a thermal chimney, enabling natural ventilation. Réunion Island is subject to increasingly intense weather phenomena, so 830 sets of shutters connected to sensors on the façades adjust their angles in real time in response to changing conditions. The Prix Versailles judges say the firm AIA Life Designers 'has delivered a sensory journey for travellers through the extensive use of wood and native vegetation, in a living expression of the island's landscape and culture.' Streamlined services at Kansai International Airport, Japan Originally designed 30 years ago by Italian architect Renzo Piano on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, Kansai International Airport is an architectural icon. With its elegant structure and aerodynamic roofline, it is also the longest airport in the world. The newly restored Terminal 1, designed by architecture firm Populous, was awarded fourth place. Its capacity to accommodate international travellers has been expanded by 25 per cent. All the interior spaces have been reinvigorated with a palette of natural materials to give the terminal a distinctly Japanese feel. A smart queue management system has also been installed to help streamline the process for passengers. A forest-inspired experience at Portland International Airport Portland International Airport's new Main Terminal, designed by American architectural firm ZGF, comes in fifth place. It was inspired by walks in the forest, resulting in a calming, immersive experience for travellers. The star of the project is its undulating mass timber roof, extending over more than 36,000 square metres, which celebrates Oregon's history of forest product innovation. The materials employed were sourced from the local industry within a 500-kilometre radius of the airport, with a 'forest to frame' system to track as much of the wood as possible back to its forest of origin. The spectacular structure allows for natural light to flood in, views of the forested landscape, and the incorporation of a multitude of natural elements. A carbon-conscious terminal at San Francisco International Airport With its 25 new boarding gates, San Francisco International Airport's Terminal 1 takes the sixth spot. A collaboration between San Francisco International Airport and a team of partners led by global architecture firm Gensler, one of its main objectives was to reduce the building's carbon footprint by 79 per cent and its energy usage by 59 per cent. With soft natural light filtering through to every level, the new terminal provides a soothing, restorative setting for travellers. The architecture unfurls in a celebration of arts and crafts that reflects the unique character of the Bay Area. The airport is also home to the SFO Museum, the world's only accredited museum at an airport, which allows more robust exhibits and art to be shared throughout the terminals. Terminal 1 is also a tribute to Harvey Milk, a trailblazer for inclusion and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California.
Associated Press
08-06-2025
- Associated Press
Shan Jixiang: Fujian's marine culture has made tremendous contributions to the development of global civilization
FUZHOU, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 8 June 2025 - Fujian recently launched the 'Marine Culture in Fujian' campaign, inviting experts to express their perspectives on the province's successful marine culture. In this video, Shan Jixiang (Director of the Expert Committee of the Chinese Cultural Relics Society and Director of the Academic Committee of the Palace Museum) and several foreign students visited the traditional village of Wulin in Jinjiang, Quanzhou. They discovered the distinct charm of the Maritime Silk Road and explored the historical significance of Fujian's marine culture. [VIDEO] Shan Jixiang, the former director of the Palace Museum, had worked in urban planning in Beijing before dedicating himself to cultural heritage preservation. He applauded Fujian's achievements to utilize and expand marine culture. In the interview, he highlighted the watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, which improved sailing safety, boosted global shipping practice, and facilitated worldwide commercial and cultural interactions. Furthermore, he praised the overseas Fujian community for its contributions to promoting mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, as well as friendly people-to-people exchanges. Shan Jixiang: Fujian's marine culture has made tremendous contributions to the development of global civilization As a key birthplace and starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, Fujian is blessed with abundant cultural legacies. Shan Jixiang hoped further efforts would be made to incorporate legacies into people's lives and tourism so as to maximize their value. Hashtag: #MarineCultureinFujian #ShanJixiang #FujianInformationOffice The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
