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© Roland Halbe
The extension of Barajas Airport in Madrid has increased the capacity to 70 million passengers a year. The present project comprises the terminal and satellite buildings and many important ancillary facilities. Altogether, the development contains more than a million square metres of functional floor area. For the main buildings, an infinitely extendable, repetitive structure was chosen, consisting of large-scale modules based on an 18x9m structural grid. The main terminal and the satellite building, with their linear layout and clear spatial sequences, are distinguished by rows of narrow, wave-like roof elements supported by central, branching columns. While the glazed facades are shaded by the broad extension of the roof, large roof-light openings ensure that the departure areas on the upper level are flooded with daylight. The upper floor slabs are divided into parallel strips by linear openings that separate the various functional areas from each other. This also facilitates a sense of orientation in the building and allows daylight to penetrate to the lower levels.