Book recommendation: Airport Wayfinding

​​Our fans frequently ask us to recommend good books on the topic of airport design and airport history. Thus, whenever we feel a book--old or new--is worth your attention, we will post a review here on the Blue Concourse blog.

AIRPORT WAYFINDING

As airports have grown in size and complexity, airport wayfinding systems have become ever more critical in  moving huge amounts of passengers throughout the airport and the passenger terminal in an efficient way.

​Wayfinding systems do more than simply guide travelers from one point in an airport to the next. 

In fact, wayfinding is the visual language used to convey each airport’s unique identity using colors, fonts and pictograms.​

In the book Airport Wayfinding (September 2021), authors Heike Nehl and Sibylle Schlaich, take a deep dive into this fascinating subject.

​They set out decipher the unique identities in the wayfinding systems of over 100 different airports, examining along the way the storied past, present challenges and promising future of wayfinding across the globe.

CONTENTS

The first chapter, Evolving, is a journey through 100 years of airport history. The book looks at how airport typologies have changed during this time and what impact these changes have had on passenger flows and on-site information requirements.

​​The second chapter, Identity, focuses on how airports have become architectural expressions of a country’s character and identity.​

The third chapter, Digital, examines how airports are constantly innovating and integrating the use of digital technology and tools to ensure an excellent passenger experience. 

The final chapter, Beyond, explores the interdependent relationship between airports and the cities and regions they serve. ​

The book contains plenty of case studies, including AMS, BER, CDG, HKG, IAH, JFK, LAX, LHR, SIN, and many others.​

A MUST-HAVE FOR YOUR AIRPORT COLLECTION

Airport Wayfinding is a beautiful and informative book, which explores a fascinating aspect of airport design. With the authors being German, you can count on meticulous research and no stone within the topic being left unturned!

I personally loved the abundance of maps, diagrams, and images--some of which from the AirportHistory.org archives. And this 270-page book contains over 800 illustrations.

​There is also an excellent balance between written text and visual materials, which is not a given in scholarly literature.

Whether you are an airport professional or enthusiast, this book should be part of your collection!

You can read more information about the book. 

​You can also buy your copy of the book.

INFORMATION

Publisher: Niggli Verlag
Language: English
​Price: EUR 44
ISBN: 978-3721210149
Hardcover, 270 pages

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