UNESCO names Suvarnabhumi one of the world's six most beautiful airports

[snoop1130]

 

Thai architecture is making global headlines as Suvarnabhumi International Airport secures a spot on UNESCO's list of the six most beautiful airports worldwide for 2024. The interest in Suvarnabhumi doesn't stop there, with the exquisite SAT-1 terminal earning a nomination for the sought-after Prix Versailles Award for the world's most stunning airport design.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of Thailand, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, expressed enthusiastic pride in the recognition. Under the savvy steerage of the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), Suvarnabhumi Airport has earned laudable international attention.

 

SAT-1, the architectural masterwork, is a breathtakingly expansive four-storey terminal with two basement tiers, stretching an incredible 216,000 square metres. Earning its nomination, SAT-1 wields a balance of modern design and traditional Thai identity, all within a framework built for sustainability.

 

 

Inside, the third floor boasts a captivating elephant sculpture, embracing departing passengers alongside a curated garden populated with mythical Thai creatures – Kinnara, Kinnari, and Hongsa. Arriving passengers are not without their share of charm, welcomed by a mobile garden comprising traditional Thai arts, puppetry and Khon masks.

 

The Thai flavour stretches even to the building ends, hosting Buddha statues Suwannabupbok and Ratanabupbok, emulating their counterparts at Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, symbolising prosperity. Even the restroom interiors captivate the eye, adorned with arts and motifs embodying Thailand's four regions, equipped with water-conserving utilities.

 

Nominated along with world-class contenders, including Terminal E at Logan, USA; Terminal 2 at Changi, Singapore; Zayed, UAE; Felipe Ángeles, Mexico; and Kansas City, USA, Suvarnabhumi's prestige is irrefutable. As the expectant world awaits the Prix Versailles results this December, it is undeniable that Suvarnabhumi Airport has set the loftiest bar in airport design.

 

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-11-14

 

 

[ikke1959]

Outside yes, inside not very beautiful in fact boring

[josephbloggs]

12 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Outside yes, inside not very beautiful in fact boring

I think the outside looks great - pretty unique, and it has some nice gardens and sculptures etc. Inside I agree is bland although again there are interesting artworks and sculptures if you haven't become jaded by seeing them a million times. Always see tourists taking photos with the Giant Ramayana statues in the check in building, also the Churning of the Milk thing after immigration always has a crowd.

Haven't been to SAT-1 yet but does look cool from the pictures.

 

[NoDisplayName]

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai architecture is making global headlines as Suvarnabhumi International Airport secures a spot on UNESCO's list

 

Designed by these famous Thai architects?

 

The new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok resulted from an international competition and established the basis of collaboration between Werner Sobek, Matthias Schuler, and Helmut Jahn.

[josephbloggs]

3 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Designed by these famous Thai architects?

 

The new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok resulted from an international competition and established the basis of collaboration between Werner Sobek, Matthias Schuler, and Helmut Jahn.

Yawn.

So Suvarnabhumi can't get any praise because it was designed by a foreign company? Right.

Weird how when people on here complain about it - the long walks, the bus gates (because international and domestic are designed to be non interchangeable), the cavernous spaces - they blame the Thais.

Boring.

[Edwin Cameron]

You have got to be jokeing? it's a friggin airport,a boreing one at that,you have to be hard up for news to run that story.

[SiSePuede419]

I don't travel to go to Airports, I travel for experiences. 😀

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Outside yes, inside not very beautiful in fact boring

External structure is indeed different, however, inside the service and ambiance are anything but beautiful

[hotchilli]

13 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

I don't travel to go to Airports, I travel for experiences. 😀

Suvarnabhumi has been known to offer those on occasion.

[Watawattana]

There's so much negativity from some commentators, too many sad news stories and too much Thai or Farang bashing (even though sometimes justified it must be said).  So it's great to see a good news story for the image Thailand.  Hope it happens more often.

[thaibeachlovers]

This has to be a joke! I had to check it's not April 1.

That place is a disaster, badly designed, inefficient, difficult to negotiate, and was falling apart a few years after it was built. The stupid canopy roof is too low and it's too hot as non reflective. The AC is inefficient

 

As for transferring from domestic to international as I had to do was a far too annoying experience.

 

Even the area to observe the runways is too small and obstructed by support structures.

 

Even trying to use the wi fi is difficult.

 

I can't think of a single thing that is good about it and I flew out of a lot of airports. It's as bad as Heathrow and that's saying something as I thought nothing could be as bad as that disaster area.

 

I lay the blame on Thaksin as IMO he stole too much money from the budget.

[thaibeachlovers]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Suvarnabhumi has been known to offer those on occasion.

Not of the happy sort though.

[thaibeachlovers]

8 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Designed by these famous Thai architects?

 

The new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok resulted from an international competition and established the basis of collaboration between Werner Sobek, Matthias Schuler, and Helmut Jahn.

They should have used the ones that designed Changi. That airport is a million light years better than Swampy.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

There's so much negativity from some commentators, too many sad news stories and too much Thai or Farang bashing (even though sometimes justified it must be said).  So it's great to see a good news story for the image Thailand.  Hope it happens more often.

The only Thai I'm bashing re the airport is that criminal Thaksin.

[Olmate]

8 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Yawn.

So Suvarnabhumi can't get any praise because it was designed by a foreign company? Right.

Weird how when people on here complain about it - the long walks, the bus gates (because international and domestic are designed to be non interchangeable), the cavernous spaces - they blame the Thais.

Boring.

The Sydney Opera House designer got the middle finger from the Ozzie snobs running the show then😭! 

[BoganInParasite]

My take is that the judges are either sight impaired or only managed to assess six airports. 

[Deputy7]

Should be #1

[GoodieAfterDark]

9 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Designed by these famous Thai architects?

 

The new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok resulted from an international competition and established the basis of collaboration between Werner Sobek, Matthias Schuler, and Helmut Jahn.

 

More like designed by Kosher Masons. 

[mfd101]

I have to say that, when I'm departing or arriving at ANY airport ANYWHERE in the world, my mind is preoccupied with 101 things other than the airport itself, inside or outside.

 

I simply don't notice.

[RichardColeman]

As airports go, it's ok. Just a shame I cannot afford to buy anything in it !

 

 

[damian]

Well, I quite like the crack design of the floor tiles. How did they do that?

[Yagoda]

Another wonderful UN job paid for by American taxpayers.

 

 

[ravip]

Incredible! Nothing in Thailand is good for a selected bunch of AN members. Any positive comment regarding Thailand is put down immediately by this bunch.

Are they 100% correct?

Are the rest of us blind to facts?

Is Thailand such a bad country?

Should we unconditionally join that band wagon?

[soi3eddie]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Arriving passengers are not without their share of charm, welcomed by a mobile garden comprising traditional Thai arts, puppetry and Khon masks.

 

...just before arriving at one of the two immigration halls of misery and up to 90 minutes waiting. Especially after many flights from China and India have arrived.

 

[marin]

17 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Another wonderful UN job paid for by American taxpayers.

 

 

Exactly what are you babbling about today Kool Aid man?

[RT555]

They are right..it is stunning

[khunjeff]

42 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Another wonderful UN job paid for by American taxpayers.

 

I was wondering why UNESCO was ranking airports, and the answer is that it isn't. The Prix Versailles was started by Diversum, "an association founded in France in 2006 that has always had a focus on questioning the links between the economy and culture under globalization". Neither the association nor the prize organization is run by the UN - they simply present their annual awards at UNESCO headquarters.  

 

https://immobilier.lefigaro.fr/article/quand-l-unesco-s-interesse-a-l-architecture-commerciale_aea227fa-18ba-11e5-a3b7-228dc60e8a1e/

[ChaiyaTH]

Fake news again? I must have missed something if Bangkok has a nice airport. Oh you mean they are that desperate that they now allow 24 hours early check in in an attempt to boost sales? Pathetic.

[Yagoda]

3 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

I was wondering why UNESCO was ranking airports, and the answer is that it isn't. The Prix Versailles was started by Diversum, "an association founded in France in 2006 that has always had a focus on questioning the links between the economy and culture under globalization". Neither the association nor the prize organization is run by the UN - they simply present their annual awards at UNESCO headquarters.  

 

https://immobilier.lefigaro.fr/article/quand-l-unesco-s-interesse-a-l-architecture-commerciale_aea227fa-18ba-11e5-a3b7-228dc60e8a1e/

Good research. Nice job.

 

The American taxpayer still pays for it.

[lordgrinz]

Not sure about beautiful, but it's definitely one of the worst to go to, I hate dealing with that airport. Most uncomfortable, chaotic and disorganized messes I have ever seen.