Sky's the limit: new airport lounges fly high

Text by Peter Smisek
18.02.19

In-air travel might have lost some of its lustre, but newly designed airport lounges are changing the course with ultra-modern and luxurious settings that invite travellers to unwind or keep working in total comfort.

Integrated into the parquet floor of Mathieu Lehanneur's Le Balcon bar for the new Air France Business Lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle is an LED screen depicting an image of the sky, which varies according to the time of day. Photo: Felipe Ribon

In the increasingly homogenous and hectic world of air travel, airport lounges are some of the last remnants of sophistication and calm; providing a place for business and first class travellers to work and unwind in well-equipped spaces away from the madding crowd.

Frédéric Dedelley's choice of materials for the VIP pavilion in Geneva Airport – such as green-speckled white terrazzo and oak panelling – references Switzerland's famous landscapes in a calm, contemporary way. Photos: Lionel Henriod

The new VIP pavilion for Geneva Airport, for instance, had to accommodate a steady stream of diplomats, heads of state and CEOs. Designed by Frédéric Dedelley, the airport lounge consists of two seating areas separated by an oak-panelled core of bathrooms, kitchenettes and other facilities. The spaces are fitted out with bespoke lounge furniture, adding to the VIP pavilion's unique, exclusive atmosphere.

Despite the Avianca Lounges' (Bogotá) simple spatial organisation, Francesc Rifé created a number of distinct zones, but has maintained a strong level of consistency with his considered choice of furnishings and colours. Photos: David Zarzoso

A similar spatial strategy, albeit on a much larger scale, was employed by Francesc Rifé for the design of the Avianca Lounges at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. Here, the architects have created two distinct areas within the airport lounge laid out along an open corridor. Each of these has a number of zones suited to business meetings and power lunches, others for relaxation and socialising, connected by a dark and enigmatic palette.

Despite Swiss International Air Lines’ strict requirements, Greutmann Bolzern Designstudio were able to add whimsical elements to their Zurich lounge, such as undulating slatted screens and a dramatically cantilevered reception desk. Photos: Valentin Jeck

Swiss First Class Lounge Terminal A at Zurich Airport, designed by Greutmann Bolzern Designstudio, is conceived to fulfil a business traveller’s every expectation. From private meeting rooms, informal lounge areas to an à la carte restaurant, the architects have managed to unify this diverse brief by using pale wooden panelling and floorboards throughout, as well furnishing the space with pared-down Swiss design classics.

Mathieu Lehanneur's new bar for Air France Business Lounge (Paris) may harken to the glamour of yesteryear and traditional French joie de vivre, but the booths feature the latest in digital connectivity to suit the modern era. Photos: Felipe Ribon

A more opulent airport lounge, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, can be found at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Located in a circular space overlooking one of the runways, Lehanneur has created a new bar for the Air France Business Lounge. Taking inspiration from traditional restaurant booths and plush theatre boxes, the bar's seating strikes a balance between the private and the collective, while reflective brass ceiling panels, blue velvet upholstery and marble tabletops create a sense of luxury.