Juanda International Airport

The integration of Majapahit cultural elements into modern architecture remains rare, particularly in East Java's airport designs. As a significant kingdom with widespread influence, Majapahit provides a strong foundation for local architectural identity. Airports, serving as regional gateways, often fail to reflect this identity. For instance, Juanda International Airport in Surabaya features the Joglo roof style (Central Java) in its domestic terminal, while its international terminal adopts a modern design, neglecting East Java's rich Majapahit heritage.

The ruins of Majapahit architecture in East Java, known for iconic red-brick temples and distinctive gates like Wringin Lawang and Bajang Ratu, provide a rich foundation for contemporary reinterpretation. Majapahit structures—categorized into temples, gates, pavilions, and houses—utilize materials such as red bricks, andesite stone, and wood. While traditional Majapahit architecture is defined by short-span structures, this project reimagines Majapahit’s architectural identity by transforming its traditionally short-span structures into wide-span modern applications, such as airport terminal design, to reflect Indonesia's cultural heritage on a global scale. Using a postmodern architectural approach, the design reimagines key elements—such as temple and gate simplified models as structural and roof modules, scaled proportions, and negative spaces evoking temple silhouettes—to create expressive, functional airport terminal. Decorative details, such as the Surya Majapahit, are reimagined as structural and ceiling elements, while traditional paving patterns are modernized with materials like terrazzo. The design incorporates Majapahit’s iconic red-brick tones and contemporary white accents, inspired by the red and white hues of Majapahit temples and their historic flag—now the colors of the Indonesian flag. This thoughtful integration harmonizes heritage and modernity, creating a globally relevant architectural language that honors Indonesia’s cultural legacy while advancing innovative airport design.