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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...

Eero Saarinen’s Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight Center was designed to visualize the “Spirit of Flight”. The need for more infrastructure to handle the rapidly expanding industry of commercial air travel was high after World War II. The reduction of prices and payment plans turned a usually high-class recreation into something within reach to the middle class. In response to the increase in aviary traffic decided to expand the Idlewild Airport (Present day JFK). The design which was deemed “Terminal City”, consisted of each airline constructing their own respective terminal. This was not decided through a design competition as many major urban planning projects are, however the airlines decided to go forward with this plan as it enabled them to create lasting brand names with permanent structures in their respective images. Saarinen collected an overwhelming amount of data on airplanes and it’s passengers. Timing how long it took for planes to take off and land, passengers commute...

Arial View In 1962 Eero Saarinen was commissioned to design the new Airport Terminal. Before this time, flying was mainly for rich people; the same thing could be said about architecture. The airlines began discounting tickets and including payment plans so that "common people" could afford their services. For this terminal they wanted the idea of the “spirit of flight.” He created a design that was made up of four symmetrical curved concrete shells that came together in middle. Many said the building looked like a bird about to take flight; Saarinen said this was only a coincidence because he got his inspiration from a hollow grapefruit peel, which, he pushed the middle down. Interior Space Whichever the inspiration, the TWA is a milestone achievement. Before then, many architects were not worried of the person’s personal use or experience, but Saarinen wanted to change that. “We wanted passengers passing through the building to experience a fully-designed env...

Emilia Kightley-Sutter The TWA Flight Center in John F. Kennedy Airport in Jamaica Queens, New York was designed by Eero Saarinen was opened in May 1962 just a year after Saarinen died of a brain tumor. The flight center is an example of what post-second world war two tools we had to accomplish mid-twentieth century modern architecture.The client wanted this building to show the spirit of flight and for people who are running to catch a flight to have a strict path of beautiful views within the promenade architectural.  The organic shapes of the flight center were in magnificent scale and the hints of modernism influenced the social atmosphere of the users. Throughout the plan some stylistic features are marble steps, mosaic tiling and thought out furniture design and layout for the travelers. Although the building seemed to be a great win for architecture it was critiqued for its style, size, and function. However the interior and exterior were names a New York City landmark ...

TWA Terminal The TWA Terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen was more than just a terminal, it was a testament to aviation at the time. The building itself was designed and built of concrete after the Second World War. In his attempt of the terminal, “Eero Saarinen sought to capture the sensation of flight in all aspects of the building, from a fluid open interior, to the wing-like concrete shell of the roof” (Archdaily). It was after the Second World War that commercial air travel had become available to more than just the higher class people. The design of the terminal came from the Port of New York Authority’s request for a terminal city. This terminal city would require each major airline to operate an individual terminal. Through Port Authority’s request, TWA approached Eero Saarinen as the architect for this project. TWA wanted a terminal that would “provide TWA with advertising, publicity, and attention”, and Saarinen took the public attention very seriously considering the site w...