Architectural Intention
Description of what Saarinen tried to accomplish with the design of the Dulles International Airport Terminal
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Architectural Intentions:
  1. He was attempting to create the first commercial airport that was specifically designed to handle the larger jet aircraft. The new jet aircraft were physically larger and able to accommodate more passengers than previous propeller airplanes.

  2. One of the problems created by the jet aircraft was the distance required between typical airport gates. The larger aircraft required more space, forcing passengers to walk great distances to reach their flights. Eero wanted to find a more efficient way to handle passengers.

  3. The airport was planned to be the gateway to the nation's capitol and owned by the Federal Government. This would make the airport one of the buildings that helps to create the image of the capitol, and therefore it should express this in its architectural design.

  4. Eero felt that federal architecture was static. He thought that his airport design should express the movement and excitement of air travel.

  5. The flat site led Eero to believe that the form of the terminal needed to appear to be rising from the ground and hovering. This form would greatly contrast the flat site and give the terminal a very monumental presence.

  6. The building would not be an allusion to anything past, present, or future. They just wanted to make to make the best airport terminal in the United States.