MAD Architects Designs Bird-Inspired Lishui Airport

MAD Architects is sculpting the landscape of Lishui, Zhejiang Province with the forthcoming Lishui Airport, heralding a new era for the “forest city” known for its lush valleys and greenery. Designed to merge seamlessly with the hilly terrain that’s 15 kilometers southwest of Lishui, this project marks the city’s debut airport, catering to an anticipated annual throughput of one million passengers. The design ethos, articulated by MAD’s Ma Yansong, emphasizes an airport that complements Lishui’s natural beauty and garden city identity, prioritizing convenience and a human-centric scale over grandiosity.

The airport’s striking feature is its large, silver-white roof that resembles a bird poised for flight, symbolizing the unity between the structure and the surrounding mountains. Inside, the warm wood finishes and skylight enhance energy efficiency and blur the lines between the interior and the exterior. With facilities planned to accommodate future growth – expecting up to 5 million passengers by 2050 – Lishui Airport is on track to become a landmark project, blending sustainability with innovative design. Completion is anticipated by the end of 2024, setting the stage for Lishui’s ascent as a key aviation hub.

Take a look at the design for the new Lishui Airport in the gallery above.