Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and Cox Architecture (COX) have won the international design competition for the new Western Sydney Airport (WSA) and have been appointed as Master Architect for the project. The ZHA/COX team was selected from amongst 40 national and international applicants that was narrowed to five selected design competitors.
The Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, named after the famous Australian aviatrix, is a greenfield airport in Sydney’s new western Parkland City region. The Airport will be a fundamental catalyst for the growth of this region with the city’s greater metropolitan area set to reach 9 million by 2040. The Airport will be built in four stages of expansion, beginning with the initial stage of 10 million annual passengers (MAP) by 2026, with further increments up to 82 MAP, making it the largest international gateway to Australia by 2060.
As Master Architect, ZHA/COX will provide an overarching design for the entire airport precinct including design guidelines for future expansion. At the same time, the team will prepare the design documents for the execution of the first phase of the new Terminal Precinct. ZHA Project Director Cristiano Ceccato said: “The design is an evolution of Australian architecture past, present and future. It draws inspiration from both traditional architectural features such as the veranda, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding bushland.”
The project integrates the extensive use of daylight, natural ventilation and water recycling to create a modular, energy-efficient design. The building is also sensitive to its local context, reflecting its natural landscape and the cultural heritage of its indigenous inhabitants. COX Project Director David Holm noted: “The sustainable design takes inspiration from the local flora of Western Sydney and its natural qualities such as the Great Australian Light. These spaces, colours and materials have been incorporated into the design to give the project an unmistakable regional identity.”
