Western Sydney Airport New South Wales, Australian commercial building, International architecture competition

Western Sydney Airport, New South Wales

Architecture Competition Winners, NSW, Australia design by Woods Bagot / Zaha Hadid Architects / Cox Architecture.

Updated 11 June 2025

Design: Woods Bagot + Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Photos by Multiplex

Western Sydney Airport Building

The newly completed Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) terminal reveals a design grounded in place, shaped by light and built for the future of aviation

WSI CEO Simon Hickey was joined by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King as well as senior executives from some of WSI’s key partners to celebrate this major milestone

Achieving a 5 Star Green Star Rating, the terminal’s modular design allows for phased expansion and integrates effective passive design principles, utilising natural ventilation, on-site energy generation as well as rainwater collection and recycling

As the first major airport built in Australia in over 50 years, WSI signals a generational shift that will transform Western Sydney. Located in Badgerys Creek, the terminal is a catalyst for long-term economic, social and cultural opportunity.

From initial design concepts by COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects to the design and construction by Multiplex and Woods Bagot, the terminal blends innovation with functionality. It reflects the identity of its setting while offering an intuitive and future-ready passenger experience.

“We are on the precipice of launching a seamless and stress-free airport experience unlike any other in Australia,” said Simon Hickey, CEO, Western Sydney International Airport. “WSI will give our global city a 24-hour international gateway that will continue to create significant economic opportunities for all of Greater Sydney.”

“This is a rare opportunity to define the next generation of airport design on a global stage,” said Cristiano Ceccato, Director and Design Lead, Zaha Hadid Architects. “Together with COX, we created a design that meets the highest standards of architectural innovation, passenger experience and operational efficiency. What makes this terminal extraordinary is its blend of human-scaled design and international ambition. It is grounded in its setting—and yet globally competitive.

A terminal defined by light and landscape

Inspired by the vast horizons of the Cumberland Plain, the terminal’s architecture reflects the natural beauty of the region. Its horizontal form and transparency are informed by the surrounding landscape. Its sculptural ceiling—one of the building’s defining features—filters light from skylights in the roof, echoing rays of sunlight filtering through the peeling eucalyptus bark within the regions forests.

“From the outset, our vision was to create an airport that belongs to this place; not just physically, but in spirit and identity,” said David Holm, Principal and Design Lead, COX.

“The ‘Great Australian Light’ is one of the defining qualities of the Australian experience, and it has been central to our design thinking. The way light filters through the terminal shapes how people move, orient and feel – creating a sense of calm, clarity and connection. For many, this space marks their very first encounter with Australia, and we wanted that experience to feel unmistakably grounded in place.”

A passenger-first experience through a Western Sydney lens

One of the most culturally diverse regions in Australia; Western Sydney’s identity is reflected throughout the terminal’s public spaces. The design was shaped through consultation with Dharug Custodians, in collaboration with First Nations consultant Murrawin, embedding local narratives into the architecture. Open sightlines, warm materiality, and seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces result in a terminal that is egalitarian in spirit and expressive of local values.

“We have created a place that celebrates the cultural richness of Dharug Country,” said David Holm.

“The ambition was to create an airport that is not just a transit space but a destination in itself,” said Neil Hill, Principal, Design and Delivery Lead, Woods Bagot. “The Terminal and Landside Forecourt establish a uniquely Western Sydney character – one that welcomes visitors while resonating with the many identities and cultures that define this region.”

WSI sets a new benchmark for simplicity and ease of movement. The architecture itself guides passengers naturally through the terminal, with strong visual cues and intuitive layout.

Built for the future

With a 5 Star Green Star Rating for its design, the WSI terminal integrates regenerative design principles, utilising natural ventilation, energy efficiency and water recycling. The terminal’s modular design allows for phased expansion, ensuring flexibility to accommodate future technology and passenger needs without compromising operational efficiency.

“The terminal offers a constantly evolving visual experience and sense of joy as passengers move through the space,” said Neil Hill. “Respecting the initial concept, we configured the landside, terminal and airside design to balance and optimise the commercial and operational functional requirements. With the Multiplex team, and working closely with WSI, we introduced innovative design solutions to elevate the customer experience, deliver sustainable outcomes and apply industry-leading technical acumen.”

With its construction complete, the WSI terminal offers insights into the design and innovation shaping one of Australia’s most significant infrastructure projects.

Woods Bagot

29 Oct 2019

Western Sydney Airport Design Competition

Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture win the Western Sydney Airport competition

Sydney, 29th October 2019 – This morning it was announced that Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) (London, UK) and Cox Architecture (COX) (Sydney, NSW) have won the international design competition for the new Western Sydney Airport (WSA) and been appointed as Master Architect for the project. The ZHA / COX team was selected from a broad field of forty national and international applicants that was narrowed to five selected design competitors.

The Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, named after the famous Australian aviatrix, is a new greenfield airport in Sydney’s new western Parkland City region. Together with the original Harbour City on the coast and the River City around Paramatta, the Parkland City will become Sydney’s third urban hub, stimulating the city’s western expansion in the decades to come. The Western Sydney Airport will be a fundamental catalyst for this growth, with the city’s greater metropolitan area set to reach 9 million by 2040.

The new Western Sydney Airport will be built in four stages of expansion, beginning with the initial stage of 10 MAP (million annual passengers) by 2026, with further increments up to 82 MAP, making it the largest international gateway to Australia by 2060. As Master Architect, ZHA/COX will provide an overarching design for the entire airport precinct including design guidelines for future expansion. At the same time, the team will prepare the design documents for the execution of the first phase of the new Terminal Precinct.

ZHA Project Director Cristiano Ceccato said: “We are honoured to have been selected for this amazing project. The design is an evolution of Australian architecture past, present and future. It draws inspiration from both traditional architectural features such as the veranda, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding bushland.”

COX Project Director David Holm noted: “The design takes inspiration from the unique local flora of Western Sydney and its unique natural qualities, such as the Great Australian Light. These spaces, colours and materials have been incorporated into the design to give the project an unmistakable regional identity.”

The ZHA/COX design incorporates sustainable design principles across the building’s architecture as well as its construction principles. The project integrates the extensive use of daylight, natural ventilation and water recycling to create a modular, energy-efficient design. The building is also sensitive to its local context, reflecting its natural landscape and the cultural heritage of its indigenous inhabitants.

In the field of transport infrastructure, Zaha Hadid Architects are best known as the original design architect (with ADPI) for the new Beijing Daxing International Airport and as the Lead Consultant for the new Navi Mumbai International Airport, as well as Afragola High-Speed Rail station in Naples, and the King Abdullah Metro Station in Riyadh. Cox Architecture are designing the new Victoria Cross Station in Sydney, the Sydney International Airport Marketplace, the Sydney Football Stadium and the Chinese National Maritime Museum.

Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture