Picture this: you’re landing in one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and the first thing you see isn’t sterile white corridors and fluorescent lighting. Instead, you’re greeted by 200 hand-crafted sculptures, including a central bronze-cast Buddha, surrounded by mature trees rising through a soaring central space. Welcome to Techo International Airport, the new gateway to Cambodia that just opened in Phnom Penh, and honestly, it might make you rethink everything you thought airports could be.
Foster + Partners, the legendary British architecture firm, just completed what could be one of the most sustainable airports in the region. The building features a curved steel structure wrapped in lattice panels that mimics something you’d never expect in an ultra-modern transportation hub: a tree canopy. And not just any trees, but structural trees spanning 36 metres that support a lightweight steel grid shell, creating this incredible sense of being sheltered by nature itself.
Designer: Foster + Partners
What makes this airport absolutely fascinating is how deeply it’s rooted in Cambodian culture. The undulating roof form references Cambodia’s temples and palaces, while 180 skylights and a latticed soffit inspired by traditional basket weaving diffuse daylight across the interior. It’s like the designers took the essence of ancient Khmer architecture and translated it into a contemporary language that feels both timeless and cutting-edge. The warm interior materials evoke that traditional vernacular style, but in a way that doesn’t feel like a theme park version of history.
But here’s where things get really impressive. The terminal will be almost entirely run on energy generated by an onsite photovoltaic farm. We’re talking about a massive international airport that’s basically solar-powered. The sustainability approach goes beyond just slapping some panels on the roof, though. Deep roof overhangs reduce solar gain and mechanical cooling demand, while native planting including Romduol trees and palms is used throughout the terminal to enhance air quality. The whole building is designed to work with Cambodia’s tropical climate rather than fighting against it.
Walking through Techo feels completely different from your typical airport experience. There are minimal level changes throughout the terminal and views out to the apron to improve clarity and make movement intuitive. No more getting lost trying to find your gate or dragging your luggage up endless stairs and escalators. Everything flows naturally, and the greenery makes you feel less like you’re in a massive transportation facility and more like you’re in some kind of futuristic garden pavilion.
The scale of this project is pretty mind-blowing too. Located about 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh’s city center, the first phase can accommodate up to 13 million passengers a year, with subsequent phases adding a second airfoil wing to increase capacity to 30 million. The whole thing was built in phases using a modular construction system, which means Cambodia can grow this airport as their tourism and economy expand without having to start from scratch.
What I love most is how this airport doesn’t apologize for being beautiful while also being functional. So many modern airports feel like they’re designed by accountants, all efficiency and no soul. But Foster + Partners managed to create something that serves as both a practical transportation hub and a celebration of Cambodian identity. It’s the kind of design that makes architecture feel meaningful again, not just as buildings we pass through, but as spaces that tell stories and create genuine emotional experiences.
For travelers, this means Cambodia now has an airport that actually makes you excited to arrive. And for the design world, it’s proof that sustainability and cultural authenticity don’t have to be sacrificed for functionality. Sometimes you really can have it all: a building that’s gorgeous, green, and genuinely useful. Now if only every airport could take notes from Techo’s playbook, flying might actually become something to look forward to again.
The post This $500M Airport Just Became the Greenest Gateway to Cambodia first appeared on Yanko Design.