TWA Terminal Building - New York

The TWA Terminal building in New York was designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962. The Detroit based design firm were commissioned to design the building in 1956 with the client requesting that the design capture the 'spirit of flight.' Saarinen incorporated the shape of a large birds wing span whilst in flight which emphasized the exterior of flight itself (as a technical motion). The interior emphasized the spirit of flight and how it feel which created a surreal futuristic interior space during the time of construction. Today, the terminal has be marked as a historical landmark and serves multiple purposes including a exhibition space for artists.



EXTERIOR SPACE


The exterior focus on the form of a gull wing shape which emotes speed and also flight. It provides a streamline effect which at night would be quite illuminating. Whilst it is streamlined and emoting speed, with the organic form created by reinforced concrete with a interior steel web for its framework, it invites the user into the space.


                                                                                                                


INTERIOR SPACE

The interior space is a contemporary cool theme which emotes the feeling of wind which would be experienced in flight. The design through it's expressive curves of the exterior form creates spacious halls with the overall theme of sculpture in the concrete making the interior inviting whilst futuristic for the time. The large panes of glass were glazed with a purple tint to keep with the contemporary cool color scheme and also adds to the aesthetic appeal of the design.



MATERIALS

- Steel Framework to reinforce concrete
- Reinforced Concrete with white dye
- Glass glazed with purple tint