The project is one of the largest megastructure proposals Thailand has seen to date.
Smaller aviation towns are becoming more and more popular, like Saudi Arabia’s NEOM City in the Middle East, and now Asia may soon have one as well.
The U-Tapao “Eastern Aviation City” project in Thailand, which will soon start construction, will cost almost 300 billion baht ($8.82 billion). This is one of the biggest megastructure projects in the nation.
transforming an old airport
The historical U-Tapao airport, which dates back to the Vietnam War and is located in the Pla subdistrict of the Baanchang district of the Rayong province, will be extensively renovated thanks to the significant investment from the Thai government.
U-Tapao International Airport’s updated plan calls for converting the post-war structure into a brand-new airport that will occupy about 1,040 hectares of land. Additionally, a brand-new passenger terminal building will be attached to the remodeled airport, mostly serving low-cost flights with a small number of full-service carriers and providing connections for travelers to flights to Don Muang Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport.
A flight training facility, a free trade zone for commodities, and an aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul center are all part of the construction plans for the enormous amount of land that will be inhabited.
creating the most cutting-edge airport in Asia
Among other project participants, the GMR Group and Thai AirAsia picked the international architectural design and consultancy firm One Works as the principal masterplan designer for the airport. The following principles were chosen by One Works when creating the airport master plan:
The proximity of the passenger terminal to larger facilities, the intermodality and high level of accessibility, both locally and regionally;
a functional mixture of structures based on receptive, tertiary, culinary, commercial, and recreational activities;
Remarkable architectural details that reflect Thai culture;
Low environmental impact; high sustainability criteria; greater fusion of public and private structures.
These standards served as the foundation for One Works’ design of the U-Tapao “Eastern Aviation City,” which it aimed to make the most cutting-edge multi-modal transport hub in Asia while putting Thai culture first. With its cleverly designed interiors inspired by nature and increased spaciousness, the architecture is created for comfort and ease of navigation.
The architecture of adjacent seaside towns in the Rayong Province served as inspiration for the interior design, which also reflects Thai culture. Skylights in the ceiling, lush indoor plants, and lively retail and food & beverage offerings that are reminiscent of Thai street food and are open to everybody will all distribute natural light. Passengers can spend more time eating, shopping, and relaxing because to the reduced walking times.
The ‘Eastern Aviation City’ master design by One Work will not only meet the demands of people going to and from the airport but will also bring everything a real community needs to prosper together.
A centrally situated Smart Eco Hub Retail area and Culture Village are also included in the airport’s infrastructure to offer a distinctive entertainment element to all guests. Thailand’s prosperity and connections enabled
The master plan simultaneously ensured that the expansion of U-Tapao International Airport could eventually accommodate the 60–75 million passengers per year necessary to meet demand in this rapidly expanding market, while also prioritizing the needs of travelers and the Thai culture when coming up with design ideas.
In addition to creating 15,600 new jobs for the local economy in the first five years, this highly innovative and forward-thinking airport will foster public and private sector innovation, enchant travelers with a singular customer experience that reflects both traditional and modern Thai values, and help Thailand’s aviation industry flourish.
