Cultural Significance in Airport Design: A Comparative Study of Airports in Western Indonesia

Airports in Indonesia often adopt vernacular architecture of their respective local regions. As a multiculture nation, airports are regarded as gateways to respective areas and serve as statements showcasing local cultural works. Airports and their architecture provide an opportunity to understand ideas about place, nationality, and history while operating as high-tech transportation hubs. However, the question remained: to what extent did airport design reflect the cultural facets that enriched their vernacular identities? This research aimed to map airports in the western part of Indonesia managed by PT Angkasa Pura II using a qualitative comparative research method. The research results showed that 10.5% of airports had a very high cultural significance in the elements of form, space, and order, 68.5% had only partial cultural significance in their design, and 21% were no longer influenced and had modern designs. The findings enriched the documentation of airport terminal architecture in expressing cultural identity.