Clark International Airport is one of the most beautiful airports worldwide—Prix Versailles
Clark International Airport (CRK) is one of the most beautiful airports in the world, according to Prix Versailles—the World Architecture and Design Award of UNESCO.
As stated on its website, the prestigious recognition puts the spotlight on the primary role of the Laureates "in beautifying and improving the living environment." Prix Versailles described it as an "example presented to the world" and a "sign of exceptional architecture and design."
Airport operator Noel Manankil, who serves as the president and CEO of Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp., expressed his happiness over the recent feat of CRK. "It is an immense honor to be recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful airports and we are truly humbled by this," he said, adding that it inspired them to "keep on giving Filipinos what they truly deserve, a world-class airport."
Other airports that made it to the list are the following:
- Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (Santiago, Chile)
- Beijing Daxing International Airport (Beijing, China)
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (Schonefeld, Germany)
- Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (Beijing, China)
- Eagle County Regional Airport (United States)
- Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (Athens, Greece)
- General Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport (Tijuana, Mexico)
- Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (Vantaa, Finland)
- Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru, India)
- LaGuardia Airport (New York, United States)
- Los Angeles International Airport (California, United States)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (United States)
- Manchester Airport (United Kingdom)
- Mohammed V International Airport (Casablanca, Morocco)
- New Plymouth Airport (Plymouth, New Zealand)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (Newark, United States)
- Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (Qingdao, China)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (United States)
- Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (Shenzhen, China)
- Split Airport (Kastela, Croatia)
- Thessaloniki Macedonia International Airport (Thermi, Greece)
- Turkistan International Airport (Turkistan, Kazakhstan)
- Van Don International Airport (Vietnam)
CRK was among the top six finalists of the 2021 World Selection of the Prix Versailles Architecture and Design Awards in the Airport Category for its innovative qualities, creativity, and design connection to the culture and heritage of its location. It has a design capacity for eight million passengers per year, with four floor levels, 18 aero bridges, and a total floor area of 110,000 square meters.
The airport's interior design is tinted with earth colors and muted hues that represent the green fields in Central Luzon, blue shades surrounding Mt. Pinatubo Lake and Manila Bay, the shape of Mt. Arayat as well as gray tones and jagged stone walling inspired by the caves and rocks of Central Luzon. It also features "kaleidoscope-like colors" from the Pampangueno “parol” or star lantern in the central airside retail area, signifying "family merriment and meaningful moments."