HIMACS Goes With The Flow At Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 3

Managing the movement of passengers through the liminal spaces of major transport hubs, while also providing welcoming rest areas, is a design challenge both practical and aesthetic. The 6,000-square-metre airside marketplace in the new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport with interiors by architecture and design studio LAVA solves this puzzle elegantly with a pair of bespoke islands that combine greenery with seating and offer focal points at which to meet or relax.

Fabricated by ROSSKOPF + PARTNER, the sleek HIMACS elements reflect the flowing design language of the project. The installation also brings together complex geometries with the structural and functional requirements of a high-traffic public space.

Designed by MÄCKLER ARCHITEKTEN, the new terminal building has been operational since April 2026 and is designed to accommodate up to 19 million passengers annually. Its modular, expandable concept, known as "The Growing Beetle", combines efficient passenger flow and clear wayfinding with the aim of creating a high-quality experience. The marketplace design is an extension of this approach.

Two seating islands bring together material and form

A key feature of the marketplace is its bespoke seating installations. The two islands featuring HIMACS measure 9.1 × 6.2 metres and 7.2 × 5.6 metres respectively, with each weighing approximately one tonne. Built on a plywood substructure, they combine HIMACS with oak-veneered timber elements, stainless steel and decorative greenery.

HIMACS in Ivory White was selected for the curvaceous exterior cladding of the islands, while HIMACS in Coffee Brown was used to line the interiors framing the life-like planted effect, and where its earthy tones reinforce the design's nature-inspired effect. A total of 42 HIMACS sheets were used: 23 for the larger island and 19 for the smaller one.

By combining seating with a garden-like oasis, the installations draw on the principles of biophilic design, making aesthetic connections between people, nature and the built environment. The design also takes into account the project's fire safety requirements: the artificial plants are made from flame-retardant materials (B1) and meet the highest standards of safety, quality and design.

The larger seating island required 47 thermoforming moulds, while the smaller one required 46. “The seating elements have no straight-line surfaces. The size and weight of the components also presented particular challenges for transportation and precise alignment during installation," explains Stephan Scholz, Team Leader for Order Processing and Estimation, Solid Surface, at ROSSKOPF + PARTNER.

Approximately 50 moulds for each seating island

On site, the individually fabricated HIMACS elements were joined using suction equipment and subsequently sanded to create a homogeneous appearance with virtually invisible joints. The stainless steel components used for the backrests and protection against impact from wheeled luggage also needed to follow these curved contours. The fabricator of the metal elements shaped the 60 mm diameter tubing using templates supplied by ROSSKOPF + PARTNER, ensuring that the components could be accurately assembled on site.

Passenger movement patterns inform the spatial layout

The shape and positioning of the seating islands form part of the overall spatial organisation of the marketplace. Retail outlets, restaurants and a generous lounge area overlooking the airport apron come together in this central space. To determine the arrangement of these different functions, LAVA studied passenger circulation routes and waiting times. Digital simulations revealed movement patterns and potential bottlenecks, providing a basis for the planning process.

LAVA describes the resulting spatial structure as an archipelago, with individual islands accommodating functions such as relaxation, dining and information. Their curving forms and positioning connect passenger circulation with opportunities to pause and rest. A sculptural ceiling composed of aluminium tubes directs daylight towards selected areas, enhancing wellbeing and supporting spatial orientation. The chosen material palette and warm colours all complement this objective of a calming ambience. The HIMACS exterior cladding and planter inserts form key elements of this overall design.

Clear circulation routes extend throughout the terminal. From the check-in hall, travellers pass through security to reach the airside marketplace and continue towards the boarding gates without changing levels. The seating islands with HIMACS are an elegant solution to complementing this flow and to enhancing the overall feeling of the space.

Maintenance and technical accessibility considered from the outset

Durability and ease of maintenance are also essential in airport environments. The smooth, non-porous surface of HIMACS makes it both hygienic and easy to clean. When necessary, it can also be professionally refinished: superficial scratches and signs of wear can be removed, helping to extend the life of the solid surface elements.

Technical accessibility has also been carefully considered. Milled ventilation slots are incorporated into the underside of the seating elements, while integrated panels provide access to for both maintenance work and emergency services if needed.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Project: Frankfurt Airport – Terminal 3, Marketplace

Terminal architecture: MÄCKLER ARCHITEKTEN, Frankfurt am Main | Website: www.chmairport.de

Marketplace design: LAVA, Stuttgart | Website: l-a-v-a.com | Instagram: @lava.futures

HIMACS fabricator: ROSSKOPF + PARTNER AG, Obermehler | Website: www.rosskopf-partner.com | Instagram: @rosskopfundpartnerag

HIMACS Supplier: Klöpfer Surfaces, | Website: www.kloepfer-surfaces.de | Instagram: @kloepfersurfaces

Material: 42 HIMACS sheets measuring 3,680 × 760 × 12 mm; 23 for Island A and 19 for Island B; HIMACS S29 Ivory White and HIMACS S100 Coffee Brown | Website: www.lxhausys.com/uk/

 | Instagram: @himacseurope

HIMACS applications: Bespoke seating installations with integrated planted areas

Photography / Image credit: Taufik Kenan | Website: www.taufik-kenan.com