Welcome to Tokyo's <strong>Narita International Airport</strong>, where rubber running tracks snake across the floors, guiding passengers from entrance to airplane, and back again.
Welcome to Tokyo's Narita International Airport, where rubber running tracks snake across the floors, guiding passengers from entrance to airplane, and back again.
Kenta Hasegawa
It's the creation of Tokyo-based creative lab <a href="http://prty.jp/" target="_blank" target="_blank">PARTY</a>, who designed the earth- and blue-colored tracks for the new low cost terminal, which opened on 8 April.
It's the creation of Tokyo-based creative lab PARTY, who designed the earth- and blue-colored tracks for the new low cost terminal, which opened on 8 April.
Kenta Hasegawa
Tokyo is set to host the 2020 Olympic Games but the track's designers say that travelers' health was not their main concern...
Tokyo is set to host the 2020 Olympic Games but the track's designers say that travelers' health was not their main concern...
Kenta Hasegawa
The terminal was constructed on a budget of only half of the usual amount, say PARTY, with the customary moving walkways and illuminated signs cast aside in favor of unusual alternatives.
The terminal was constructed on a budget of only half of the usual amount, say PARTY, with the customary moving walkways and illuminated signs cast aside in favor of unusual alternatives.
Kenta Hasegawa
"This airport pursues complete low-cost. However, we started thinking about, on top of the usual low-cost, the new types of exciting low-cost architecture we could make," says Wataru Tanaka of architects <a href="http://www.nikken.co.jp/en/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Nikken Sekkei</a> who took charge of the terminal's construction.
"This airport pursues complete low-cost. However, we started thinking about, on top of the usual low-cost, the new types of exciting low-cost architecture we could make," says Wataru Tanaka of architects Nikken Sekkei who took charge of the terminal's construction.
Kenta Hasegawa
Central to the project is avoiding the disorientation common to large terminal buildings: giving travelers an easy-to-follow marking to follow to their destination, while maintaining a sense of holidaytime fun.
Central to the project is avoiding the disorientation common to large terminal buildings: giving travelers an easy-to-follow marking to follow to their destination, while maintaining a sense of holidaytime fun.
Kenta Hasegawa
The designers worked with minimalist homeware brand <a href="http://www.muji.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Muji</a> -- these sofas are a modified take on Muji's "<a href="https://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?Sec=19&Sub=81&PID=6451" target="_blank" target="_blank">footed mattress</a>" -- to follow a concept they called "necessity minimum design."
The designers worked with minimalist homeware brand Muji -- these sofas are a modified take on Muji's "footed mattress" -- to follow a concept they called "necessity minimum design."
Kenta Hasegawa
"To us, what low-cost architecture has been lacking is the sense of excitement in the space," says Takao Goto of Nikken Sekkei.
"To us, what low-cost architecture has been lacking is the sense of excitement in the space," says Takao Goto of Nikken Sekkei.
Kenta Hasegawa
The two colors denote travelers direction of movement: blue for departures, earth-color for arrivals "The blue running tracks express the color of the sky, and the uplifting feeling of traveling somewhere far away," says PARTY's Naoki Ito.
The two colors denote travelers direction of movement: blue for departures, earth-color for arrivals "The blue running tracks express the color of the sky, and the uplifting feeling of traveling somewhere far away," says PARTY's Naoki Ito.
Kenta Hasegawa
"The earth-colored running tracks express the sense of relief when people finally land in Japan after a long journey. The idea is to use these two colors as user-friendly signs to guide people."
"The earth-colored running tracks express the sense of relief when people finally land in Japan after a long journey. The idea is to use these two colors as user-friendly signs to guide people."
Kenta Hasegawa
Across the terminal, which exclusively serves budget carriers, low-cost features can be found where expensive ones are expected. Here, wire mesh replaces glass.
Across the terminal, which exclusively serves budget carriers, low-cost features can be found where expensive ones are expected. Here, wire mesh replaces glass.
Kenta Hasegawa
The running track reduces the need for costly electric signage, and where signs are required, simple static signs are used.
The running track reduces the need for costly electric signage, and where signs are required, simple static signs are used.
Kenta Hasegawa
The open food court employs low-cost natural wood Muji furniture, but creates a modern, domestic feel in the heart of an airport departure lounge.
The open food court employs low-cost natural wood Muji furniture, but creates a modern, domestic feel in the heart of an airport departure lounge.
Kenta Hasegawa
"Considering the characteristics of LCC (Life-cycle cost), how travelers are here around the clock, We created sofa's for people to relax and even lie down for a rest," says Muji's Naoko Yano
"Considering the characteristics of LCC (Life-cycle cost), how travelers are here around the clock, We created sofa's for people to relax and even lie down for a rest," says Muji's Naoko Yano
Kenta Hasegawa