Key ingredients of MVRDV, KPF and Meinhardt’s vision for the 100,500m2 terminal at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol are a strong linearity, a clear organization of the ‘polder’ grid, internal transparency, views to the Dutch skies and a series of specific programmatic ‘squares’ that all contribute to creating pleasant and stimulating passenger experiences.

The design builds upon Schiphol’s historic DNA. Schiphol’s first major development in 1967 was a perfect mix of the heroism of flying and understated Dutch rationalism. Architect Duintjer celebrated the passengers escape to the sky, lifting off from the horizontal linearity of the Dutch landscape. The terminal followed a clear set of design principles that until today define the unique physical appearance of Schiphol: well-structured and human-scaled spaces, materialized in a timeless manner.

Combining different areas of expertise and experience MVRDV collaborated with architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) and engineering firm Meinhard. The team put together a convincing proposal that came in second after Dutch office KAAN Architecten.