Techo International Airport Awarded World's Most Beautiful Airports 2026 by Prix Versailles

Techo International Airport has been recognised among the World’s Most Beautiful Airports 2026 as a laureate of the Prix Versailles World Selection. The airport is listed alongside outstanding international projects from the United States, Germany, China, and India, highlighting its architectural quality, Khmer design identity, and cultural references.

Announced annually at UNESCO since 2015, Prix Versailles celebrates projects that combine architectural excellence with innovation, creativity, local heritage, ecological efficiency, and social impact. Introducing this year’s selection, Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, noted that contemporary airports “can no longer be described as mere ‘transfer’ spaces” and are becoming “emblems of economic, cultural and social dynamics.”

Previous Prix Versailles World Selection laureates in the airport category include Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 and LaGuardia Airport Terminal B in New York. Past juries have also brought together leading figures from architecture, design, culture, and the arts, including Emma Watson, Lang Lang, and Philippe Starck.

As one of OCIC’s landmark infrastructure projects, Techo International Airport brings together international design expertise and Cambodian cultural references.

Designed by Foster + Partners, the airport is defined by a large roof canopy whose overall form draws inspiration from the rumduol flower, rising towards the center of the building and echoing Cambodia’s palaces and temples. The structure’s detailing is inspired by traditional basket weaving, with elements that appear woven from bamboo and rattan.

The airport’s design approach contributes to natural ventilation and reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day. Greenery follows passengers throughout the terminal, with native rumduol trees rising within the soaring central void. The integration of natural light, interior greenery, warm materials, and cultural references creates a calm and welcoming environment for passengers.

Techo International Airport’s recognition highlights Cambodia’s growing presence on the international architectural stage and marks an important milestone for OCIC as part of one of Cambodia’s most significant infrastructure projects, with continued development planned to support the country’s connectivity for the next decades.

This press release was supplied.