A terminal designed to be a landmark
When Dutch architecture firm UNStudio was brought on to redesign Kutaisi's airport, the brief went well beyond the terminal building itself — it covered the runway, the master plan for future development, the terminal, offices, a meteorological station, and the air traffic control tower.
The concept: a 'gateway'
UNStudio's design treats the terminal as a literal gateway — a single large-span volume where a bold red corner detail marks the entrance as 'a crossing-point and point of recognition.' Inside, an umbrella-shaped structure organizes how passengers move through the building, keeping departure and arrival flows from crossing.
Built-in sustainability
Less visible than the architecture is what's underneath it: an on-site underground water source feeds a concrete core activation system that helps regulate temperature in both the terminal and the control tower, paired with a grey-water collection system built into the terminal floor.
From closure to reopening in under two years
The airport closed for reconstruction in November 2011 and reopened on 27 September 2012 — a fast turnaround for a full terminal rebuild, with French firm Vinci Airports brought in to help train staff ahead of the relaunch.
A launch with high-profile guests
The reopening ceremony was attended by then-President Mikheil Saakashvili, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Wizz Air CEO József Váradi — a lineup that hinted at the airline partnership to come just a few years later.
