Lithuanian Airports has announced that Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has won the international competition to design the new Vilnius Airport Arrivals Terminal. The project marks a major step in the airport’s long-term plan to handle future passenger growth and reinforce Lithuania’s status as a key Baltic gateway.
“The current arrivals terminal no longer meets today’s needs or the airport’s future ambitions,” said Eugenijus Sabutis, Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications. “As Lithuania’s gateway, the terminal forms visitors’ first impression. The competition produced modern, adaptable design solutions that address the airport’s evolving requirements.”
© Negativ – Brano Marsalek.
Currently operating at full capacity, Lithuanian Airports considers the new terminal a strategic investment in both national aviation and economic development. Complementing the recently completed departures terminal, the new facility will raise total passenger capacity to 10.6 million annually.
© Negativ – Brano Marsalek.
Functionality and passenger experience were central to the competition brief. “The winning design meets these goals while also reflecting Lithuania’s cultural identity through distinctive architecture,” said Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports. “It will serve as a strong first impression for visitors.”
ZHA’s concept is rooted in local heritage, using traditional Lithuanian motifs in a contemporary architectural language. The design is based on a rhombus—an important shape in Baltic folklore—forming a modular structure that is both symbolic and efficient.
© Negativ – Brano Marsalek.
“This is a confident and respectful design for public infrastructure,” said Laura Kairienė, CEO of Vilnius City. “It balances modernity with sensitivity to place and promises to set a high standard for sustainable architecture in the capital.”
The new terminal’s layout is shaped by existing infrastructure, placing the historic Terminal 1 at the heart of a cohesive complex flanked by modern departures and arrivals facilities.
© Negativ – Brano Marsalek.
Aligned with the Vilnius Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, the terminal will offer seamless connectivity with other airport facilities and integrate into a future multimodal transport hub—Airport Plaza. This will include the Rail Baltica high-speed line, regional and local trains, bus networks, taxis, cycling paths, and pedestrian routes.
Interior design references sodai, traditional straw ornaments recognized by UNESCO. These hanging geometric structures symbolize well-being and celebration. The terminal’s pleated timber roof evokes their delicacy and interconnectivity, with skylights shaped as rhomboids and triangles bringing natural light into the space and highlighting its distinctive structure.
© Negativ – Brano Marsalek.
This modular roof supports technological upgrades and future growth while ensuring energy efficiency. Natural orientation cues, city views, and accessible facilities aim to create an intuitive, welcoming environment for all travelers.
“This design speaks both of innovation and heritage,” said ZHA director Ludovico Lombardi. “It connects passengers smoothly with the city’s broader transport network.”
© Negativ – Brano Marsalek.
Aiming for an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating, the terminal incorporates passive climate design, smart systems for managing energy use, and hybrid natural ventilation. Solar panels covering around 13,000 m² of roof and adjacent buildings will generate on-site renewable energy, while rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling reduce water consumption through natural filtration and storage systems.
Tyréns Group contributed structural engineering and sustainable design expertise, also supporting the airport’s masterplan and traffic solutions for all transport modes.
“The design reflects Tyréns’ commitment to long-term sustainable value,” said project lead Agnė Peikštenienė.
The new terminal is a core component of Vilnius’s 30-year masterplan to strengthen Lithuania’s regional and global connectivity. As the country’s primary air, rail, and road hub, the airport will support new direct routes and boost the national economy while improving international access.
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Cover image: © Negativ – Brano Marsalek
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