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New Image at Vaclav Havel Airport Prague: Both Terminals and Surroundings to Undergo Changes

Czech Aeroholding has called for a two-round urban–transport tender resulting in new ideas for the image of the public area outside Terminals 1 and 2. The aim is to obtain a bid to reorganize transportation and create an urban concept for the public and development areas for preparing the construction of railway connections and the new parking system. In the future, a representative, friendly area is to be developed outside the terminals featuring a smart solution for car transportation and parking. The current interior of Terminals 1 and 2 is also to undergo modification to evoke the beginning of passengers’ holidays in Prague and the CR immediately upon their arrival.

To arrive at an urban concept and transportation solution, a public transportation-urban tender was put out by Czech Aeroholding, working together with the Institut Plánování a Rozvoje hl. m. Prahy (the Institute for Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague) in accordance with standards for architectural tenders. The winner will be announced by the late 2015. “We believe we will obtain an innovative solution that will stand the test of time well, featuring a simple, clearly laid-out structure for roadways that takes the future connection of the airport to the railway system into account, together with a changed parking system. We would like to offer passengers a sophisticated area not only inside the terminals themselves, but also outside them” says Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Czech Aeroholding. Architects may submit tender proposals by 17 August 2015, the deadline to submit proposals in the first round of the contest.  

In addition to the external areas, the interiors of both terminals are going to undergo significant changes thanks to the multinational corporation Chapman Taylor International. The company has designed, for example, Terminal 5 at Heathrow, London or a Leeds shopping centre that received many prizes. Together with British designers, we wish to change the interior of Terminals 1 and 2 at Vaclav Havel Airport Prague to better reflect the symbolism of Prague and the Czech Republic. The design is to be simple and its ultimate goal is a concept of the future modification of the airport’s interior. The new image intends to provide simple references to well known tourist sights and scenes and thus make visitors feel their holiday in Prague or the Czech Republic has begun upon leaving the aircraft” says Václav Řehoř. The new concept is to be reflected in the image of the terminals gradually. The first significant change that passengers will register consists of a new information Welcome Centre in Terminal 1 whose construction is planned for the upcoming year.

The modification of terminals and their surroundings is part of a long-term plan on the part of Letiště Praha to make the time passengers spend at the airport as pleasant as possible.  This plan is currently supported by a communication campaign titled “We’re Changing the Airport for You”, which also serves as an umbrella for changes in parking and catering.