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foster and partners kuwait airportInhabitat favorite <a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Practice/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Foster + Partners</a> just announced they will be designing the new <a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/452/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Kuwait International Airport</a> - and they're aiming to make it the world's first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design" target="_blank">LEED gold certified</a> passenger terminal! The stunning design is sure to be an eye-catcher from both the ground and the sky, and it will raise the environmental bar for airports everywhere with a smart set of green features that will reduce the building's energy use and keep it cool in one of the hottest places on earth.1
foster and partners kuwait airportThe last time we heard from <a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Practice/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Foster + Partners</a>, they had just revealed their incredible plans for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/apple-unveils-exciting-new-pictures-of-its-foster-partners-designed-green-headquarters-in-cupertino/" target="_blank">Apple's new headquarters</a> in California. Now jumping a few ponds over, the firm has announced they will be designing the new <a href="http://www.fosterandpartners.com/News/452/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Kuwait International Airport</a>.2
foster and partners kuwait airportSet in the Arabian desert with an average annual temperature of 90 degrees,<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/middle-east/kuwait/map_of_kuwait.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/middle-east/kuwait/&h=350&w=466&sz=41&tbnid=b-oVJH_7xMLA9M:&tbnh=85&tbnw=113&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmap%2Bof%2Bkuwait%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=map+of+kuwait&docid=A-X6suoxPdIvtM&sa=X&ei=UyuKTuDvGcn10gH7__z9Dw&ved=0CCsQ9QEwAQ&dur=426" target="_blank"> Kuwait</a> is one of the hottest places on earth. The airport will feature a series of concrete pillars that help cool and protect the interior by providing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_mass" target="_blank">thermal mass</a>.3
foster and partners kuwait airportThe roof is an elegantly flowing canopy that is fitted with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaics" target="_blank">photovoltaic solar panels</a> to harvest the sun's energy. It also features various glazed openings that allow natural light to illuminate the terminal while deflecting heat and solar radiation.4
foster and partners kuwait airportThe massive airport is divided into three wings - each of which is almost a mile long - that connect in a dramatic 82-foot-high central dome. The solidity of the structure combined with the swooping and curved design is a comment on both modernity and tradition, as it mimics the unique style of Kuwait's customary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhow" target="_blank">dhow sailboat</a>.5
foster and partners kuwait airportThe airport's design also aims to offer a welcoming and comfortable environment for travelers. A spacious entry plaza complete with a unique landscaped area exhibits native desert plants while waterfalls along the baggage claim area serve to cool and relax the weary.6
foster and partners kuwait airportStrategically located in the middle of the desert, the airport will accommodate 13 million passengers a year and has the flexibility to expand over time to nearly 50 million in the future. The enormous and modern airport will be a new symbol of Kuwait's contemporary style and design.7
