Written by 
Lishui Airport by MAD Architects in china to open in 2024
MAD Architects reveals that the final phase of construction on Lishui Airport is nearing completion, with the project on schedule to open by the end of 2024. Nestled in the foothill valleys of Lishui, China’s ‘forest city’ (see designboom’s previous coverage here), the airport spans 2,267 hectares and features a 12,000-square-meter terminal designed to harmonize with its mountainous surroundings.
The architectural language of the terminal embodies a deep connection to its environment. A feather-like roof, composed of lightweight aluminum panels, is supported by 14 umbrella-shaped columns, inspiring a sense of lightness and flow. Extending 30 meters, a dramatic cantilever frames the entrance, creating a spacious and naturally illuminated concourse that welcomes travelers with openness.
all images by Hello Lishui, courtesy of MAD Architects, unless stated otherwise
fluid, feather-like roof in harmony with contours of the land
MAD Architects’ terraced design, shaped by leveling nearly 100 meters of elevation, organizes the terminal, parking, and office areas into descending platforms, respecting the natural contours of the land. A central skylight floods the interior of the Lishui Airport with natural light, while the silver-white roof features bold characteristics that embrace fluidity. Inside, wood-toned finishes and a ‘one-and-a-half-story’ layout create a human-scaled, efficient space. Passenger areas transition from 4.5 meters to 13 meters in height, offering options for intimacy and spaciousness, with the compact arrangement integrating arrival and departure zones for facilitated movement.
a feather-like roof, composed of lightweight aluminum panels | image by MAD Architects
future expansion to accommodate up to five million passengers
A landscaped walkway connects the parking area with the terminal, enhancing accessibility and maintaining the airport’s dialogue with its natural surroundings. Lishui Airport is equipped with three boarding bridges, five remote stands, and an initial capacity to serve one million passengers annually. It is conceived as a domestic regional airport, prioritizing convenience and human-centered design over monumental scale. ‘As a feeder airport, Lishui Airport shows another attitude as a public transportation facility in the city: not greedy for big, but pursuing convenience and humanity, and pursuing a dialogue with the natural environment,’ Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects explains.
Future expansion is embedded in the structure of the airport, anticipating growth to accommodate 1.8 million passengers by 2030 and up to five million by 2050. Provisions for an international terminal ensure that Lishui Airport can evolve alongside the development of the region.
the silver-white roof features bold characteristics that embrace fluidity | image by JK Wang
final phase of construction on Lishui Airport is nearing completion | image by JK Wang
a central skylight floods the interior of the Lishui Airport with natural light | image by MAD Architects
the roof is supported by 14 umbrella-shaped columns | image by MAD Architects
wood-toned finishes create a human-scaled, efficient space | image by MAD Architects
creating a spacious and naturally illuminated concourse that welcomes travelers | image by MAD Architects
extending 30 meters, a dramatic cantilever frames the entrance | image by MAD Architects