Abstracts Transportation

Conception of Third Place in International Airport Terminals: Devising Sociability through Sustainist Design

by Preethi Hannah

'Third Places include a unique collection of qualities and characteristics of a place that are 1) visual 2) cultural 3) social and 4) environmental, which blend the physical characteristics of the space with the inexplicable feelings that tend to linger on in a person’s memory. This thesis explores the creation of a third place in international airport terminals, through the application of sustainist design, to devise sociability. Sustainist design is a new urban tapestry that identifies how sharing, localism, connectedness and proportionality are reinterpreted and effectuated in order to create a new agenda for social design. The first airport in history offered purpose-built facilities, which has now transformed into a charmless, unmemorable enclosed space, International airports have lost their individual identities. Research indicates that since the beginning of the 21st century, the airport experience has gained importance due to the growing understanding that it can boost non-aeronautical revenue. Sources were identified and studied in order to understand the application of sustainist design in creating meaningful spaces for sociability. The results of these studies have been used to focus on redefining the social aspects of the interior environment within airport terminals. Further, these results indicate that the future belongs to those airports that evolve from just being 'spaces of flow' to destinations that connect people and places.' Keywords: third place, socialization, sustainist design, airport, terminals Advisors/Committee Members: CHAIR: Chapin, Meldrena, Mondo, Jessica, Finn, Matt.