Changi Airport — Reimagining Airports as Global Cultural Ambassadors and Nurturers of Wellbeing

When we think of world-class design, airports are often overlooked, seen as mere transit hubs instead of global cultural ambassadors or nurturers of wellbeing. But Singapore’s Changi Airport has been rewriting that narrative for a while now.

Opened in 1981 with just one terminal, Changi Airport began its journey as a modest gateway. Due to increased passenger traffic, a second terminal opened in 1990, followed by a third in 2007. Today, it has four terminals that serve 100+ international airlines that connect global travelers to 330+ cities across 80 countries worldwide.

As we emerged from the pandemic in 2023, global tourism rebounded to 90% of pre-pandemic levels, driving a surge in demand for air travel and online booking services. While many airports globally struggled to keep up, Changi Airport was well-prepared.

I’m not sure about you, but with age comes a deeper appreciation for the spaces we inhabit, the commutes we endure, and the impact they have on our well-being.

British designer, Isle Crawford captures this sentiment perfectly “It’s important we design spaces for the senses because we are primal creatures and we read our environments through the senses. They are what connects us to the world. I believe our senses are another form of intelligence, so it’s important the spaces we live in speak to that, and we’re not just dashing through soulless spaces.”

Changi Airport exemplifies this approach. It is a masterful blend of great attention to detail, a profound understanding of people’s needs and desires, and an intelligent integration of various sensory elements that create a truly holistic travel experience. This thoughtful experience design approach is evident in the plush carpeting throughout the terminals, which reduces noise pollution and softens acoustics, the bespoke Orchid Tea scent that invisibly permeates to soothe the senses, lush indoor gardens to alleviate stress and anxiety, smart boarding processes with intuitive wayfinding to streamline navigation and passenger traffic, creative play areas that add a layer of fun and engagement for families, and designated relaxation areas for napping and meditation for weary travelers. Combined with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, many aspects of Changi Airport work in cohesion to engage the senses, offering travelers a space that is not only functional but also deeply resonant on a human level.

This dedication to service excellence has garnered Changi Airport global acclaim. Out of 44,000+ airports worldwide, it has consistently been recognized as ‘Best Airport of the Year’ by OAG Worldwide, Business Traveller magazine, the International Air Transport Association, Skytrax World Airport Awards, and more.

It’s commitment doesn’t end there. There’s a notable dualism in their approach: they exhibit immense pride in caring for travelers while applying a similar level of rigour to their backend operations. From their green procurement policy ensuring sustainable sourcing and environmentally friendly practices, to recycling concrete to reduce waste, horticultural composting to support their lush gardens, and innovative measures to keep Changi Airport cool with reduced energy consumption — every effort underscores a long-term commitment to operating environmentally sustainable.

In a place that’s so welcoming of daily chaos, Changi Airport understands how to balance stress and complexity by designing for the senses and infusing it with warmth, comfort, ease, patience, intelligence and thoughtfulness. It’s not perfect, but it aspires for something much better for our collective transitory wellbeing in comparison to other airports and perfectly encapsulates the evolution of airports and third spaces.

And it isn’t resting on its laurels. It’s pioneering passportless immigration — redefining travel convenience and security, with trials already underway. By early 2025, it will install Singapore’s largest single-site rooftop solar panel system, generating enough clean energy to power over 10,000 four-room flats annually. Looking ahead into the 2030s, Changi Airport is developing Terminal 5, poised to rival the world’s largest airports in cargo connectivity and passenger capacity.

People often look abroad for inspiration when imagining the future of services. Perhaps it’s time we start looking closer to home as the future’s been here quietly developing all along.

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All images are from Changi Airport Group