BANGKOK — Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Midfield Satellite 1 (SAT-1) has been nominated by UNESCO as one of 6 candidates for “The World’s Most Beautiful List 2024” in the Prix Versailles awards, which recognizes excellence in world architecture and design in the airports category.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit said on November 14 that Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) has designed Suvarnabhumi Airport’s SAT-1 building as a 4-story structure with 2 underground levels, covering an area of 216,000 square meters.
It features 28 contact gates and stands out for its architectural excellence, identity, design, passenger experience, and commitment to cultural and environmental sustainability, particularly in showcasing the intricacy of Thai identity to impress incoming tourists.
The beautiful design incorporates cultural strengths, with interior decoration blending architecture and art that reflects Thai identity harmoniously with modern building structure. The design encompasses history, identity, and way of life, featuring a masterpiece elephant sculpture located in the central hall of the 3rd floor, which serves departing passengers.
The 3rd floor’s interior is designed with a garden decorated with Himaphan mythical creatures from ancient Thai beliefs, including Kinnara, Kinnari, Hemaraj, and Hong Sa (celestial swan). The 2nd floor, serving arriving passengers, features a transit garden showcasing Thai landscape integrated with cultural arts such as small puppets, large shadow puppets, khon masks, and Thai kites.
At both ends of the building (east and west), Suwan Butsabok and Rattan Butsabok house Buddha images in the Subduing Mara and Opening the World postures, modeled after Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, bringing auspiciousness to the location.
Additionally, the restrooms present beautiful regional identities with murals depicting Thailand’s four regions and Thai cultural traditions in their interior design. All sanitary ware uses automatic systems for water conservation.
The Prix Versailles Selection Committee, in collaboration with UNESCO, will officially announce the results on December 2, 2024, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. The judging criteria focus on outstanding architectural design, both exterior and interior, including creativity and innovation that integrates with social and environmental contexts.
The other five airports competing for this award are; Logan International Airport Terminal E, Boston, USA; Changi Airport Terminal 2, Singapore; Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Felipe Ángeles International Airport, Zumpango, Mexico; Kansas City International Airport, USA.
The Prix Versailles, which has been announcing winners at UNESCO headquarters since 2015, continues its tradition of celebrating exceptional architecture and design through its prestigious “World’s Most Beautiful” awards program. These annual awards showcase outstanding projects that enhance the global living environment.
Prix Versailles Secretary General Jérôme Gouadain explained that their World Jury evaluates projects across eight major categories: Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations, Sports, Museums, Emporiums, Hotels, and Restaurants. From these, twenty-four World Titles will be awarded to the most exceptional Selected Sites.
The competition’s Official List celebrates projects that excel in multiple dimensions: innovative design, creative vision, preservation of local heritage, environmental efficiency, and fostering social interaction. These criteria align closely with UN values and smart sustainability principles, considering ecological, social, and cultural impacts.
“We’re seeing how the interconnection between environmental consciousness, social dynamics, and cultural preservation is creating pathways for intelligent sustainable development,” Gouadain noted. “This approach isn’t just a target—it represents our capacity to address contemporary global challenges.”
The Prix Versailles has established itself as more than an architectural competition; it serves as a global platform highlighting how thoughtful design can contribute to sustainable development while preserving cultural identity and promoting social cohesion.
This prestigious recognition program demonstrates how architectural excellence can harmonize environmental responsibility with cultural preservation, setting new standards for future development projects worldwide.
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