Rostov-on-Don Airport, south Russia, has chosen an ambitions project with outstanding design qualities incorporating local climate considerations and functional aesthetics Situated on the river Don, Rostov is one of the many cities that has originated and developed around a major water source. From ancient times, the river has been considered a source of life, trade, a provider of sustained life-style.
Therefore, the original concept of Twelve architects was to retain the original site location for the project – the river Don, and this have responded to the main requirement of the brief. The design drive and also a major focal point of the winning design entry includes a sky bridge composed of slender glazed arches. Thus, the studio have shown how they have retained the symbolism of the river Don as the origin of Rostov city. With the symbolic analogy of the airport being described as a sky bridge, the studio designed the roof on an orthogonal orthogonal projection grid, tus dividing it into its elegant glazed arches. The roof resembles a repetitive composition of four equal elements arranged asymmetrically.
The interior environment is spacious, letting natural light in and is organized by the major significant passenger routes, as well as a hotel, a business center and a drop-off area. By defining the boundaries of the building using the orthogonal grid, Twelve architects have managed to find a balanced solution for any long run expansions and additions thus implementing that their proposal is sustainable.
With this approach in mind, the team have in overall incorporated the needs of the local climate of south Russia into their scheme thus implementing the notion of passive design. This means the building and its use are designed to respond to the local climate of Rostov-on-Don for the achievement of maximization of users’ comfort and minimization of energy use.
The initial demand of five million passengers a year will experience a welcoming environment and currently, Twelve architects are to provide technical documentation and further refine the design in collaboration with the clients.
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.