Opened only a few months ago, the airport terminal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is already drawing raves from business and leisure travelers who have experienced the terminal’s unique interior and exterior design features, which will fit into the airport’s general master plan.

Techo International Airport was designed by London-based Foster + Partners, and the new terminal building embodies Cambodia’s long-term vision for growth while drawing inspiration from one of the oldest civilizations on earth and responsive to the tropical climate.

Located about 12 miles south of Phnom Penh, the terminal building comprises a central main area and two aerofoil-shaped piers. While the terminal’s first phase of the project, the main central area and the northern pier, is now open to the public, the southern pier will open in 2030. The terminal layout favors short walking distances, clear sightlines and ample orientation, allowing passengers to navigate through the building with ease.

© Nigel Young / Foster + Partners

“Techo International Airport is a celebration of Cambodian culture and light, forming a new gateway to the country,” said Stefan Behling, head of Studio, Foster + Partners.  “It is also one of the most sustainable airports in the region, filled with natural daylight and beautiful local greenery, it offers strong visual connections to the outside. The terminal holistically transforms the experience of travel for the people of Cambodia and the millions of visitors who will travel through here every year.”

Passenger processing, security and immigration, and retail are sheltered by a single overarching roof canopy that stretches from passenger drop-off to terminal interior. The modular roof is supported by structural “trees” that each span 118 feet. The roof has an undulating form that crescendos at the center of the building, echoing Cambodia’s spectacular palaces and temples.

Soffits are used throughout the terminal building, inspired by Cambodia’s traditional basket weaving. More than 150 skylights are strategically placed evenly around structural “trees” to bring natural light deep into the space.

© Nigel Young / Foster + Partners

Greenery follows the passenger experience throughout the terminal, with native Romduol trees, Cambodia’s national flower, rising within the soaring central part of the terminal, alongside local palms and flowers.

The project hopes to be one of the “greenest” airports in the world by seamlessly integrating architectural design and engineering to reduce carbon footprint. The terminal’s overhanging roof is designed to provide shading for both passenger drop-off areas and interior spaces, reducing the need for mechanical ventilation. Innovative soffit and roof lights address the challenge of illuminating larger terminal spaces and reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day.

With a capacity for 15 million passengers annually in its first phase, the airport will strengthen tourism, expand trade flows and enhance Cambodia’s international connectivity. Natural light, tropical landscaping and a 29-foot Buddha statue in the Abhayamudra pose together create a distinctive sense of place that celebrates Cambodian heritage while offering a modern gateway for future generations.

© Nigel Young / Foster + Foster

A high-speed rail link is also planned for future stages of the airport, encouraging public transport use and reducing car traffic. A green public park is the centerpiece of the airport masterplan, providing a healthy and serene environment for people using the airport, as well as those living and working in the area.