THE LIVING TERMINAL - Where biophilic design and biomimicry form a holistic, universal language of nature in airport architecture

Client: Real Developments

Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Status: R&D

A Universal Shared Space

Airports are unlike any other environment. They unite people from every culture, background and language under one roof. In this setting, design has the power to become a bridge, connecting not just destinations but people. The Living Terminal embraces this role through forms drawn directly from nature, forms that are universally familiar, instinctively comforting and capable of influencing mood and well-being.

Holistic Nature Logic

This project sees no divide between biophilic design and biomimicry. Instead, it treats them as a single design language that uses nature’s principles as both inspiration and instruction.

The arching ribs mimic the segmented exoskeleton-like bands of a caterpillar’s body, which are not rigidly fixed but connected in a way that allows smooth, wave-like movement. Translating this into architecture, the rib structure could be seen as segments that breathe with the space, visually expressing motion while structurally anchoring the form.

The spaces between the ribs resemble the softer intersegmental membranes of a caterpillar, here reinterpreted as large glazed panels that act like transparent connective tissue. In nature, these membranes allow expansion and contraction; in the building, they allow openness, light penetration and views, while maintaining the flowing continuity of the form.

The overall silhouette reflects how a caterpillar’s body adapts to its environment, adjusting its posture over a leaf or branch. Similarly, the building’s curves feel like they have been shaped by environmental forces such as wind, light or topography, rather than imposed in defiance of them.

Breathable, Light-Shaped Spaces

Between the protective ribs, panels of high-performance glass and integrated ventilation act as breathable membranes, controlling temperature and airflow while allowing light to pass through. Daylight is filtered in shifting patterns, creating a living play of shadow and brightness that changes with the day, connecting passengers to natural time cycles even in a controlled environment. These patterns are not decorative, they are part of a healing spatial logic, providing sensory variety that reduces stress and supports well-being.

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Airports are spaces of transition, yet they can be more than passages between places. The Living Terminal transforms travel into a shared metamorphosis. Rooted in the caterpillar’s segmented form and protective skin, the architecture guides passengers through a sequence of spaces — from enclosed, sheltering environments to expansive, light-filled halls. In this gradual unfolding, the traveler’s journey mirrors the butterfly’s emergence, embodying the possibility of renewal and connection before taking flight.

Biomimicry in Materiality

Material choices are guided by nature’s efficiency and resilience. The structure uses 3D-printed eco-materials inspired by the caterpillar’s segmented shell, where each band combines protection with flexibility. This layered approach mimics how natural exoskeletons balance strength and movement. Surfaces draw from naturally weather-resistant forms, with self-healing finishes and locally sourced materials reducing environmental impact. Every element works in harmony, much like an ecosystem, so the terminal feels alive, adaptive, and rooted in nature’s logic.

Vision Impact

At its core, The Living Terminal is an argument for designing our universal spaces such as airports, stations and public hubs around the shared language of nature. When we connect biomimicry and biophilic design holistically, we create environments that are efficient, resilient and emotionally resonant. This is architecture not only for movement but for meaning, spaces that heal, inspire and bring people together.