Architecture - Barajas Airport, Madrid Spain

Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela designed the T4 of the Barajas airport in Madrid, Spain which was completed in 2004. It won the 2006 Sterling Prize.

Rogers placed a flowing canopy atop parallel circulation systems, supported by twin diverging columns. Light and transparency punch through the hill-like roof structure.

Change in the vertical sense is also very apparent, as brutal concrete gives way to lifting and floating glass. Ever the utilitarian, Rogers carefully places the mechanical and structure away from the people but always in view, flexible and always changing.

Transitions between spaces are considered as if a person changes time zones gingerly on a travel, with repeated structure and spaces as the visitor goes through the building from flight to flight. The subtle change in colors punctuate this change.

I was fortunate to take these photos on a very quiet Sunday morning whilst in transit through Terminal 1.