The architectural competition for new buildings at Prague Airport was won by the studio MVRDV

Prague - The architectural competition at Prague Airport for new buildings was won by the Dutch studio MVRDV in collaboration with the company NACO. The design expands Terminal 1 with a new building for central security control, new commercial spaces, and lounges. There will also be a building with a hotel, conference center, and parking lot. Prague Airport announced this in a press release today. The new buildings are part of an investment plan that the airport recently presented. By 2033, it aims to invest 32 billion crowns in its development.

Prague Airport expects that the new constructions will enhance operational flexibility. According to Jiří Kraus, Vice Chairman of the Board of Prague Airport, the competition attracted exceptional interest from architects, including foreign ones. "The centralized security control facility at Terminal 1, together with a partially developed solution for the expansion of Terminal 2, will become the cornerstone of a comprehensive mosaic of this strategically significant project to increase the capacities of the airport terminals," said Kraus.

Thanks to the terminal expansions, it will be possible to process twice as many passengers during peak travel hours. Currently, the maximum capacity is 4,400 people per hour; after the expansion, it should be 7,220, recently stated Jiří Pos, General Director of Prague Airport, while presenting the investment plan. A Central Security Control area is to be created at Terminal 1, similar to what exists at Terminal 2. At present, security checks at Terminal 1 extend to individual gates.

Winy Maas, co-founder of MVRDV, stated that today most airport experiences lack connection to the place and a sense of belonging from the passengers. "That will soon change in Prague. When passing through security control, you will be surrounded by the greenery of the Czech landscape - on the ceiling depicting it and in the surrounding areas where plants typical of the Czech biotope will be located. Such an experience will provide you with a sense of calmness and belonging," he said.

Other teams recognized in the architectural competition at Prague Airport include the Czech Studio Perspektiv in collaboration with the Norwegian architects Nordic Office of Architecture and the Aulík Fišer Architects office.

Prague Airport aims to increase its capacity to 21.2 million passengers annually by investing 32 billion crowns by 2033. In addition to increasing the number of direct connections from Prague, the airport also intends to expand parking and commercial space options. For example, the current 6,500 parking spaces are expected to be increased to 10,000 by 2030, the lounge area is set to quintuple to 10,500 square meters, and the restaurant area is expected to increase by 5,000 square meters to 16,000.

This year, the airport expects to process 13.6 million passengers, which would be an increase of nearly three million compared to last year. The airport anticipates a return to pre-COVID numbers in 2026. Next year, the airport aims to process 14.9 million passengers.