Large Doesn’t Always Mean Functional

Humans have had a longstanding love affair with bigger and better buildings. The tallest building in any city is always noteworthy, whether or not its size has anything to do with its function. But in this newer era of architecture, it’s more important to use space well, for the benefit of its users, than to climb to higher heights.

For example, the Beijing Airport is the largest in the world. But it’s also rated by travelers as easy to navigate and use. In an interview with the European, famed architect, Sir Norman Foster, explained that the Hong Kong airport was Beijing’s inspiration. It’s “been voted the airline travelers’ best airport,” he says, “by 13 million passengers from 160 countries.” Conversely, one of the busiest airports in the world – JFK – is soundly hated by practically every traveler, according to CNN. London’s Heathrow doesn’t rank any better.

Of course Beijing’s airport is much newer. JFK and Heathrow are not capable of handling the volume of travelers that pass through every year. But if they had been designed for the future instead of the present, travelers might have a different experience.

World-renown architect, Sir Norman Foster, says architects are tasked with using less to do more.