LSG Solutions designs Mestia Airport terminal that reinterprets Georgian heritage

Promotion: Tbilisi-based multidisciplinary design and project management company LSG Solutions has designed a timber terminal for Mestia Airport in Georgia's Svaneti region.

Led by an entirely Georgian team of in-house architects, engineers and consultants from LSG Solutions, the proposal features a patterned structure in honour of historical figure Queen Tamar, who reigned during the country's Golden Age in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.

Drawing on this era of the country's history, the new terminal blends both historical and contemporary cues, rendering it a "cultural touchstone" for Georgia's built environment.

"The new Mestia Airport terminal transcends the boundaries of utility," LSG Solutions said. "It embodies a dialogue between legacy and innovation, acting as a contemporary retelling of Georgia's historical identity through architectural language."

"Designed with Queen Tamar's enduring symbolism in mind, the structure functions as a vessel of cultural continuity – one that does not merely serve passengers, but welcomes them into a story centuries in the making," the company said.

Defined by its timber structure, the 2,000-square-metre terminal will be spread across a single story and complete with an open-plan layout that merges the departure and arrival areas.

Forming the structure's timber framework will be a series of large wooden beams and supporting frames crowned with a gridded roof structure.

Motifs that nod to the patterns and materials of Queen Tamar's ceremonial attire are integrated into the building's architectural language.

"It is very symbolic that an airport named after Queen Tamar – a female monarch – is being designed by women," said design team leader Nino Grigolashvili. "The entire concept is directly connected to Tamar's royal garments."

The proposal by LSG Solutions was selected among 17 other leading architectural firms through a national competition organised by the United Airports of Georgia and was unanimously chosen by the jury.

Praised for its "spatial clarity, cultural sensitivity and innovative engineering", the design highlights the company's commitment to delivering cultural, sustainable and innovative infrastructure projects in the country.

Renders of the exterior reveal expansive floor-to-ceiling openings that wrap around the facades and draw light into the terminal. Inside, these will be complemented by the addition of large square skylights and glass partitions across the interior.

"Skylights with in-built heated glass are embedded into the timber roof, allowing natural light to pour into the space and creating a soft architectural continuity between interior and exterior," the company said.

Optimising the use of locally-sourced materials, the structure's warm, wooden tones will be offset by stone-clad walls and grey-toned floors.

Strip lights will follow the form of the building to provide artificial lighting throughout the terminal. Construction of the proposal is expected to begin this year.

LSG Solutions is a multidisciplinary design and project management company operating across different sectors, including real estate, healthcare, education, industry, retail, infrastructure and multifunctional developments.

To learn more about LSG Solutions, visit its website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for LSG Solutions as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post LSG Solutions designs Mestia Airport terminal that reinterprets Georgian heritage appeared first on Dezeen.