Narok Airport terminal Building

Void Studios were appointed to produce a concept design for a new International Airport Terminal Building in Narok, Kenya. The site is currently home to a local air strip used by small local planes to access the Maasai Mara National Reserve. 

This ambitious project seeks to provide a new 2km runway which will increase capacity and offer facilities for larger planes from around Kenya and neighbouring countries in East Africa.

The new terminal building sits within a external façade comprising multi-coloured terracotta panels designed to reflect Maasai beading. They follow a simple geometric pattern with variations used to highlight the entrance and landscaped areas inside the building. The façade provides shadowed patterns on the external skin of the building and on the floor, animating the whole with a constantly changing play of light and shade.

The structure is predominantly rammed earth walls, using locally sourced soils to embody the red tones found naturally in the landscape, which is seen as the most prominent colour in Maasai culture.

Internal rooms are maintained at a single storey, located within a double height space. This results in visitors being able to see the beaded façade from all areas inside the building.

Soft landscaping features throughout the interior. These are used to clearly set out functions within the terminal and introduce the rich biodiversity of Narok into the building. The result is a softening of the otherwise functional hard surfaces.

‘Enkongu naipang’a engen’

Enkongu naipang’a engen’

This Maasai proverb means, “Clever is the eye that has travelled.” It emphasizes the importance of exposing ourselves to new experiences through travel. Travelling improves our knowledge of other cultures and makes us knowledgeable about customs that are different from our own.

The new Narok International Airport Terminal transcends its role as an infrastructural node. It is an integration of cultural heritage, community spirit, and environmental stewardship. 

A gateway that not only connects people but also tells the story of the land and its people.