Prague Airport To Expand With LED ‘Czech Lanterns’ Wrapped Around Its Façade
By Alexa Heah, 02 Nov 2023
When the revamped Václav Havel Airport opens to the public, travelers will find the exteriors of its expansion “draped” in illuminated satellite images of the Czech Republic—forming three distinct ‘Czech Lanterns’ as a welcome to visitors.
The project, headed by MVRDV Architecture, will see Terminal 1 of Prague’s hub cover more ground, featuring new buildings for a central security facility, business lounges, and a vertiport.
Across the airport loop road, a separate tower will house a hotel, conference center, and parking facilities for travelers. These three pillars will be constructed with glued laminated timber (glulam) joints paired with hollow concrete floors.
According to the firm, the virtual images adorning the site’s façade—which will be visible on both its roof and interior ceiling—will make use of photovoltaics to contribute to the airport’s energy supply.
In addition, the programmable lighting elements making up the screens will allow for information to be displayed to thousands of people at once, so visitors can receive up-to-date information about events happening around the country.
That’s not all. Apart from providing the airport’s ‘Czech Lanterns’ experience, the technology-activated screens make the overall building project more sustainable by reducing solar irradiation.
“Most airport experiences these days have become detached from any sense of place, or any sense of control for the traveler,” explained MVRDV founding partner Winy Maas.
“At Prague, this will soon be different. As you pass through security, you will feel surrounded by the greenness of the Czech landscape—in the ceiling, which shows its green landscapes, and in the courtyards nearby, which host plants that are recognizable from the Czech biotope.”