Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Throughout the terminal building, soffits are inspired by traditional basket weaving.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Arrive at Techno International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and feel like you are cocooned by culture and design
Designed by Foster + Partners, the new terminal embodies Cambodia’s long-term vision of growth. It creates a strong sense of place, inspired by one of the world’s oldest civilizations, drawing on its vernacular forms and responding to the tropical climate.
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – Suspended under the building’s lightweight steel grid shell structure, a latticed soffit filters daylight into the vast terminal space throughout the day.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Located 20 kilometers south of the city center, the terminal building features a central head house and two aerofoil-shaped piers. The first phase of the project—the head house and northern pier—opened to the public in September this year. The southern pier is scheduled to open by 2030. The terminal layout emphasizes short walking distances, clear sightlines, and simple navigation, enabling passengers to move through the building easily.
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – The roof has an undulating form that crescendos at the centre of the building, echoing Cambodia’s spectacular palaces and temples.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – 180 skylights are strategically placed around structural ‘trees’ to bring natural light deep into the space while ensuring even distribution.
Credit Krzysztof Szymanski / Foster + Partners
Passenger processing, security and immigration, and retail areas are covered by a single overarching roof canopy stretching from the drop-off zone to the airside. The modular roof is supported by structural ‘trees’ each spanning 36 meters. The roof features an undulating design that peaks at the center of the building, echoing Cambodia’s magnificent palaces and temples.
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – The terminal’s overhanging roof is designed to provide shading for the interior spaces, reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Throughout the terminal building, soffits are inspired by traditional basket weaving. Suspended beneath the building’s lightweight steel grid shell, a latticed soffit filters daylight into the expansive terminal space during the day. 180 skylights are strategically placed around structural ‘trees’ to bring natural light deep into the area while ensuring even distribution. A warm artificial lighting system is also integrated within the soffit’s layers and the structural ‘trees,’ creating a calm and inviting atmosphere in the evening. The floor slab soffits feature distinctive woven infills that complement the overall latticed soffit.
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – A single overarching roof canopy stretches from the drop-off to airside.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Greenery follows the passenger journey through the terminal, with native Romduol trees rising within the soaring central void, alongside local palms and flowers.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Greenery accompanies the passenger journey through the terminal, with native Romduol trees rising within the soaring central space, alongside local palms and flowers that enhance a strong sense of place. The materials are warm and inviting, reflecting the local style in a modern way. A collection of 200 handcrafted sculptures, along with a centerpiece bronze-cast Buddha, have been thoughtfully curated to honor the country’s history and evolving identity.
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – The roof has an undulating form that crescendos at the centre of the building, echoing Cambodia’s spectacular palaces and temples.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – The modular roof is supported by structural ‘trees’ that each span 36 metres.
Credit Nikolai Malsch / Foster + Partners
The project aims to make one of the greenest airports in the world by smoothly combining architectural design and engineering to drastically cut the project’s carbon footprint. The terminal’s overhanging roof is built to provide shade for both the drop-off zones and interior areas, lowering the need for mechanical ventilation. Its innovative soffit and roof lights solve the problem of lighting large terminal spaces and lessen the reliance on artificial lighting during the day.
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh – The floor slab soffits feature unique woven infills, which complement the overarching latticed soffit.
Credit Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Stefan Behling, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “Techo International Airport is a celebration of Cambodian culture and light, forming a new gateway to the country. It is also one of the most sustainable airports in the region, filled with natural daylight and incredible local greenery, and offering strong visual connections to the outside. The terminal holistically transforms the experience of travel for the people of Cambodia and the millions of visitors who will travel through here every year.”
