Located 20km south of Phnom Penh city centre, this international airport forms the centrepiece of a wider masterplan for a new airport city. The design draws inspiration from traditional Cambodian architecture while responding to the tropical climate, creating a terminal that reflects its setting. The project combines contemporary infrastructure with locally inspired design, with the terminal building supporting the wider masterplan and its focus on passenger experience and sustainability.
A well-executed airport structure that successfully integrates bamboo, steel and glass into a single structural system. The judges were impressed by the gridshell and truss systems, which achieve large spans while supporting architectural, climatic and seismic requirements. The decoupling of structural systems enhances resilience and efficiency, while the extensive use of locally relevant materials strengthens the project’s connection to place. A refined and accessible expression of structural engineering that demonstrates how technical performance, sustainability and architectural quality can be successfully combined.