TWA Terminal at JFK Airport , 1962, (Jamaica, Queens, New York), Futurism

The TWA Terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport was designed by architect Eero Saarinen. Saarinen was born on August 20, 1910 and passed away on September 1, 1961. He was born on the same day as his father, architect Eliel Saarinen. He also continued his father’s interest in neofuturist internationalism, using curves and glass. Saarinen had an early death, therefore a short career. However, he did have a very successful career and won numerous awards for his projects.
One of his projects that clearly depicted his designs with futurism is the TWA Terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Airports are typically busy spaces and Saarinen believed that the space deserved more than being just a passing space. In 1956, the client wanted to capture “the spirit of flight.” He wanted to design the space so when flyers or visitors enter the space they are forced to move around the space that has curves to reflect the idea of the “jet age.” His idea for the concept of flight incorporated spaces that flowed from one side to the other. He used a concrete roof to represent an in-flight bird that has two “wings.” The interior of the space is a ribbon element. The interior and exterior all intertwine with one another and the ceilings run into the walls which then turn into floors.
A statement by Saarinen during the construction of the terminal was, “All the curves, all the spaces and elements right down to the shape of the signs, display boards, railings and check-in desks were to be of a matching nature. We wanted passengers passing through the building to experience a fully- designed environment, in which each part arises from another and everything belongs to the same formal world.” This is an important statement about the project because it explains how the idea of tying everything together.
The material for the structure is reinforced concrete with four segments extending outward at a focal center. The wings come out on both sides of the building, “to prepare for fight.” The structure is also reinforced by a web of steel. The large glass panels underneath the concrete are supported by steel. The windows are sloped towards the interior to accommodate views for the people to have the idea of looking down towards the earth.
The TWA Terminal was deemed a landmark in 1994 by the Landmarks Preservation Committee. The terminal became a facility for JetBlue Airways in 2005 and was completed in  2008. More recently, the TWA Terminal is now being transformed into a hotel and is expected to open in 2019. It will have the world’s largest hotel lobby, at 200,000 square feet.Related image









Works Cited
Negroni, Christine. "Updating the Landmark T.W.A. Terminal at J.F.K., This Time as a Hotel." The New York Times. February 06, 2018. Accessed May 01, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/realestate/commercial/twa-terminal-jfk-airport.html.


"Spotlight: Eero Saarinen." ArchDaily. August 20, 2017. Accessed May 01, 2018. https://www.archdaily.com/772104/spotlight-eero-saarinen.


"AD Classics: TWA Terminal / Eero Saarinen." ArchDaily. July 02, 2010. Accessed May 01, 2018. https://www.archdaily.com/66828/ad-classics-twa-terminal-eero-saarinen.

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