COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects will design the Western Sydney Airport
By David Malone, Associate Editor
The Western Sydney International Airport is a new greenfield airport in Sydney’s new western Parkland City region. The team of COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects will design the project after winning an international competition comprising 40 entries.
The airport’s design integrates the extensive use of daylight, natural ventilation, and water recycling to create a modular, energy-efficient design. The building will also be sensitive to its local context, reflecting its natural landscape and the cultural heritage of its indigenous inhabitants.
“The design is an evolution of Australian architecture past, present, and future,” said Cristiano Ceccato, ZHA Project Director, in a release. “It draws inspiration from both traditional architectural features such as the veranda, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding bushland.”
The Western Sydney International Airport will be built in four stages of expansion beginning with the initial stage of 10 million annual passengers by 2026 and ramping up to 82 million annual passengers by 2060, making it the largest international gateway to Australia. The project is expected to be a catalyst for growth in Parkland City, Sydney’s third urban hub after the original Harbour City on the coast and River City around Paramatta.
