Can the airport be really beautiful? Air terminals are often inherently stressful, but some facilities are simply transit points to raise the design bar and reach point A to point B.
An annual international architectural competition announced at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Prix Versailles recognizes the excellence of global commercial design. In addition to the most beautiful airports in the world, the organization also recognizes building categories such as campuses, railway stations, stadiums, museums, hotels and restaurants. The competition, dating back to 2015, celebrates not only aesthetic quality, but how buildings embody innovation, cultural significance and sustainability.
In 2025, Prix Versailles named six airport terminals in four countries the most beautiful in the world. Two of them are in the United States. This news comes as US airports are getting a much-needed overhaul. Since 2022, US airports have received approximately $12 billion in investments in major infrastructure projects, including modern competitions and amenities that enhance the passenger experience.
To win the Airport Award, the judges considered factors such as terminal layout and flow, integration with the natural environment, and the use of local materials and design motifs. These are six devices that won the Prix Versailles Award in 2025.
Kansai International Airport (KIX) Terminal 1
Location: Osaka, Japan
First opened in 1994, Kansai International Airport (KIX) Terminal 1 was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. The mastermind’s blueprint includes a drastic, asymmetrical roofline, which today exists as one of the world’s longest passenger terminal buildings.
At the beginning of 2025, the terminal completed seven years of renovations, increasing international capacity by 25%. The global design company Populous led the architecture and interior design of redevelopment, streamlining passenger flow for arrivals, and introducing more natural materials and sense of place. Travelers can also experience floor-to-ceiling glass walls that shine light on the terminal and provide panoramic ocean views.
Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) Terminal 1
Rental: Marignane, France
After three years of work and two years of closure, Terminal 1 at Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) reopened in June 2024. Designed by Foster + Partners, the Landmark Project reorganizes passenger flows by simplifying the flow of flyers from the land into the air. It can now accommodate 1.2 million passengers.
The updated terminals feature an inverted roof with a continuous grid of glass skylights, bringing natural light deep into the building and allowing for natural ventilation. (This design greatly reduces the need for cooling.) Large indoor trees were also added, giving the space a sense of calm and relaxation.
Portland International Airport (PDX) Main Terminal
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
In 2024, Portland International Airport (PDX) opened a state-of-the-art terminal of 1 million square feet. This is the first US airport to fully embrace “biophysiological design” that develops indoor spaces with the natural world in mind. Research has shown that this design philosophy can reduce stress by reducing blood pressure and heart rate. Airport inspiration? Walking through the forests of the Pacific Northwest.
In the center of the design is a mass timber roof that stretches to approximately 400,000 square feet. The roof materials are sourced from local sustainable loggers and sovereign tribal groups, all within a 300-mile radius of the airport. (Additionally, the airport contains a newly cut wood smell.)
Roland Garros Airport (Run) Arrival Terminal
Rental: Island Conference, France
Roland Garros Airport (RUN) debuted its new arrival facility in early 2024, becoming the world’s first tropical biotourism airport structure. In other words, this design allows for natural ventilation throughout the building and incorporates a central “cany” that acts as a heated chimney.
This eco-friendly design features 830 sets of shutters, each connected to sensors that adjust in real time to accommodate changes in weather conditions. Additionally, local vegetation, natural wood and volcanic rocks throughout the terminal connect travelers to the island’s natural beauty.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Terminal 1
Location: San Francisco, USA
After approximately eight years of construction, the final stages of SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 project were completed in June 2024. The terminal is at the foundation of SFO’s plan to achieve zero carbon emissions, zero waste into landfills, zero net energy.
Named after an openly gay elected official, the facility is widely praised for its thoughtful design, eco-friendly construction and deep cultural storytelling. Passengers walk to the gate and enjoy views of San Francisco Bay from vast floor-to-ceiling windows. And they can browse permanent multimedia installations celebrating the heritage of milk as a civil rights icon.
Yantai Penglai International Airport (YNT) Terminal 2
Location: Yantai, China
Terminal 2 at Yantai Penlai International Airport (YNT) opened last summer, will serve as a gateway from Japan and South Korea to China. Yantai is a port city in Shandong province, and the reinterpretation of the hull of a wooden ship within the terminal is inspired by the Maritime Silk Road.
The new facility’s drastic roofline is supposed to evoke Mount Kunyu, a mountain range near the city. Additionally, natural light is overflowing throughout the terminals, illuminating the curves, tones and materials that make up the interior.
