Reimagining Airports: Biophilic and Neurodiverse Design for the Future of Air Travel

Designing Inclusive Airports: Biophilic and Neurodiverse Design Principles

"It’s not only about reaching the destination, but also about savoring the journey along the way."

Airports are often described as no-man’s-lands between places, transient, utilitarian, and emotionally charged. But what if they could be something more? A place of calm, connection, comfort, even beauty?

For most travelers, airports are synonymous with stress. But for neurodivergent individuals, the experience can be especially overwhelming. The unpredictability of delays, the crowded security queues, the sensory onslaught of announcements, fluorescent lights, and terminal noise, all these factors can create a setting that feels anything but hospitable.

And yet, nearly 1 in 5 people is neurodivergent. That’s 20% of the population of individuals whose brains process the world in ways that may not align with traditional norms, including people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. Designing for this group is not a niche gesture; it’s a necessity.

The Case for Rethinking Airport Design

Current design strategies, though well-intentioned, often fall short. Sensory rooms, for example, do exist in some major airports, but they are usually tucked away past security, beyond the bustle of concessions and gates. They’re an afterthought, not a philosophy.

What we need is an integrated, inclusive approach. One that doesn’t isolate neurodivergent individuals into a single room but instead embeds comfort and cognitive ease into every layer of the airport experience.

A vision for the future of air travel: where terminals feel more like tranquil retreats than stressful transitions. These biophilic and neuro-inclusive design concepts reimagine airports as calm, sensory-supportive environments filled with natural light, organic textures, layered greenery, and thoughtful acoustic planning. Because every journey deserves moments of peace, not just movement. [concept image by Heidi with Midjourney]

Biophilic and Neuroinclusive Design: A Vision

Neurodiverse and biophilic design principles are naturally aligned. Both prioritize how people feel in a space. Both seek to reduce stress, enhance well-being, and foster a sense of ease. And both are needed now more than ever as airports grow more complex in scale, flow, and function.

Here’s what that future could look like:

A Welcome that Feels Like a Breath of Fresh Air

From the moment a traveler enters, they’re greeted by natural light, greenery, and soft acoustics. The color palette is warm and muted inspired by sand, stone, wood, and sky creating a calming first impression. Gentle nature sounds subtly mask the low hum of crowds and announcements.

This is the opposite of sensory shock. It’s sensory grounding.

A Landing Space After Security

Imagine this: You’ve just made it through security a physically and emotionally taxing process. Instead of being funneled straight into a duty-free maze, you step into a small, serene transition zone.

A biophilic “landing space” that lets you pause, breathe, and orient yourself. Think skylights, lateral green walls, textured stone benches, and perhaps a quiet water feature. It’s a walk-through oasis or a spot to linger. This small shift could radically reduce travel anxiety for everyone.

Light, Acoustics, and Flow

The thoughtful layering of lighting with indirect natural daylight, dimmable zones, and circadian-tuned fixtures supports neurological well-being. Good acoustics matter too: using sound-dampening panels and nature-inspired noise masking can soften the harshness of terminal environments.

Even wayfinding becomes part of the design language. Clear signage, intuitive flow, and minimal decision fatigue make the journey more comfortable, not just for neurodivergent travelers, but for everyone.

·Materials That Feel Human

The selection of materials has a profound impact on emotional response. We replace glossy tile and sterile surfaces with natural finishes: oiled wood, honed stone, matte ceramics, and soft textiles. These tactile choices create a more human-scaled environment, less institutional, more intuitive. Of course, materials like these may not be feasible for every square foot of a terminal, but when used strategically and selectively, they create high-impact moments that ground the traveler and shape their emotional experience.

Not Just for Some — For Everyone

Neurodiverse-friendly design doesn’t just benefit a few. It elevates the travel experience for all. Parents with young children, elderly travelers, people navigating grief or exhaustion, everyone benefits from environments that reduce stress, invite stillness, and feel thoughtfully made.

This isn’t about adding a sensory room. It’s about designing the entire airport with sensory intelligence.

Why It Matters

Design isn’t neutral. It either supports or hinders human experience. Airports, arguably one of the most high-stress, high-traffic environments in modern life, offer a profound opportunity to shift from transactional to transformational.

A beautifully designed terminal can reintroduce something that’s been missing from air travel for decades: a sense of wonder and welcome.

Imagine an airport where goodbyes are quiet, not rushed. Where arrivals feel personal, not chaotic. Where even a delayed flight gives you a moment to rest, reflect, and exhale.

That’s the future I want to be part of designing.

Designing with neurodivergence in mind is not a constraint. It’s a catalyst for better design overall. When we bring biophilic principles, sensory awareness, and empathy into public spaces, we don’t just improve functionality. We uplift the entire human experience.

With warmth and wonder,

Heidi