Four Expansions: Western Sydney Airport by Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture
Zaha Hadid Architects (London) and Cox Architecture (Sydney) have carried the day as the victorious team in a competition for the design of the new Western Sydney Airport (WSA). Along with the original Harbour City, which is located on the coast, and the River City around Parramatta, the new greenfield airport in the Parkland City region is slated to play a central role in Sydney’s expansion to the west.
The current design foresees a four-stage plan of successive expansion projects. The starting phase in 2026 will accommodate 10 million travellers; the targeted number of passengers will reach as many as 82 million by 2060. For this project, ZHA and Cox’s plans include the airport grounds as well as planning regulations for future enlargements.
Inspired by the flora of western Sydney, the colour scheme and material-based spatial sequence will take up the area’s regional identity, explains Cox project director David Holm. Sustainable design principles will play a central role, both in the architecture and the construction of the airport. The project will combine large-scale daylight use with natural ventilation and water recycling in order to create a modular, energy-efficient design.