The refurbished Kansai International Airport (KIX) Terminal 1 opened in March 2025 to accommodate the millions of passengers expected to pass through the iconic building to attend World Expo 2025 in Osaka. Populous has been working for more than seven years to completely reimagine the airport’s floor plan, bringing a new level of efficiency and experience.

The original KIX Terminal 1, which opened in 1994 was intended to have a 50:50 split between international and domestic passengers but over the years its domestic use has dwindled, while there has been a substantial influx in international visitors. Populous was required to craft a design built on operational functionality, convenience, accessibility and sustainability, while delivering innovative solutions that create an authentic and experiential environment with a clearly defined spirit of place.

The new Terminal 1 includes a 60% increase in the size of the international departure lounge and retail, the introduction of world-first retail layouts based on passenger experiences, and the creation of a seamless processing experience.

The brief also needed to consider operational functionality during renovation. The project was completed in four phases to maintain continuous airport operations. The terminal is now expected to handle over 40 million passengers annually – a 25% increase since the upgrade began. It features 6,650 square meters of additional airside retail, 1,130 square meters of food and beverage space, and a centralized immigration area.

The security screening zone was consolidated and extended for faster, more comfortable inspection, supported by smart lanes that can process between 4,500 and 6,000 passengers per hour.

Japan’s first automated queuing management system uses real-time passenger data to control gates and shift waiting lines as needed. A new commercial area includes 13 stores across international departures and arrivals, plus a lively street food court.

The project has already been recognised for its architectural vision as a finalist in the 2023 World Architecture Festival Awards for Future Projects.

Originally designed by world renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the airport is considered an architectural icon. Regarded as part of the high-tech architecture movement of the 1990s, KIX’s industrial design is famous for its asymmetrical clear-span sweeping aerofoil roofline. At 1.7km long, it is the longest airport passenger terminal building in the world.

The brief required the redesign to respect the old while embracing new commercial opportunities for passengers. The design therefore broke away from the former gray color scheme, reinvigorating the interior spaces with a palette of natural materials to give the terminal a distinctly Japanese feel but at the same time opened areas like the relocated immigration hall to provide an open space reflecting the original architecture.