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The new terminal at Bahrain International Airport, valued at 1. 1 billion dollars, is about 4 times larger than the previous terminal. It was created as a Middle Eastern hub to serve 14 million passengers a year, many of whom transfer from regional planes to foreign flights.
The clean, modern design of the nearly mile-long terminal, with multi-story windows, immaculate polished stone floors, and 104 check-in counters, has a charming centerpiece for first-class and non-premium passengers alike. business. : The 29,000-square-foot, 10-room Pearl Lounge.
The living room of the moment is McDonald’s, TGI Fridays, and local fast food restaurants in the terminal’s food court. It’s a sign of how the biggest advertising airports and business aviation airports are looking to refresh their services with sumptuous enclaves.
A small island country sandwiched between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and a short flight from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain competes with other more well-known foreign airports to offer the most modern and high-end facilities. diversity to visitors.
And it’s a winner. The Pearl Lounge was recently awarded five stars by Skytrax, which rates airport lounges based on 250 other hospitality criteria.
“There are other people who fly from all these other airlines in Europe and the Middle East, and they can have long layovers between flights,” says Ed Bakos, CEO of Champalimaud Design in Manhattan, who oversaw the design. with Tony Masters Design. “But the difference is that Pearl Lounge is not related to any specific airline. It has the Bahrain mark.
Champalimaud designed Hudson Yards in Manhattan, the Belair Hotel in Los Angeles, and the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
The running orders were to create a fresh and engaging area for multiple flyers, with local cultural references sprinkled throughout. “They allowed us to bring a new outdoor attitude to what could be an airport living room,” says Bakos, referring to the Bahrain Airport Company, which operates the airport.
Size and scope are obviously the main differentiators between the Pearl Lounge and individual airline executive lounges. It’s designed to accommodate 450 people, with a room for every type of traveler, whether relaxing or gambling with the family, doing business with a finger or two of 18-year-old Scotch, or reading a book. mail in a quiet corner.
The Drawing Room has a cool British feel, and next door is the Library, where a bar serves wines, beers and cocktails. A family domain circle and game room are located on one side of the hall. Forno’s Italian Kitchen offers freshly made pizza and pasta, while the Tasting Room offers hot, bloodless buffets and more formal dining. The lounge offers breakfast all day. Showers, sinks and prayer rooms complete the living space.
The concept for creating a “heavenly mansion,” Bakos says, with a series of experiences for guests, adding a classic majlis or “living room” for others with similar interests. It is explained through snake-shaped sofas and many USB ports. The architect’s favorite is the living room that offers perspectives of the asphalt. “I’m a driver and I love the scale of the area and how it relates to the asphalt,” he says.
The pieces have also been designed to mix with each other. “Social engineering that goes into creating spaces that are intimate but within an organization is not a simple thing to do, but I think we’ve done it right here,” says Bakos.
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