Sky's the limit: new airport lounges fly high

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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