British Airways passengers flying through Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. can relax in a new lounge surrounded by customized architectural glass.
The project’s architect—TPG Architecture—incorporated a variety of customized glazed pieces, combining hardworking architectural surfaces with a luxurious aesthetic. The selected varieties include:
- custom-color back-painted and laminated glass panels echoing the airline’s blue, silver, and white palette;
- fade privacy glass;
- imprinted custom graphics in glass; and
- luxurious subway-style glass backsplashes.
The chic, maintenance-friendly fade laminated glass meets British Airways’ corporate branding goals and guidelines, while maintaining a luxurious and pristine appearance to welcome hundreds of premier passengers daily.
To create the aesthetic, the design team drew inspiration from the airline’s flagship lounges at London’s Heathrow Airport. The new space is designed to provide travelers with stylish areas to unwind, refresh, and catch up on work. The lounge also features a dining area, wine gallery, bar, and workspaces.
The glass is maintenance-friendly regarding its naturally hygienic, non-porous surface.
To allow patrons to easily recognize the new lounge, the architects created an expansive glass feature wall in British Airways’ signature ‘midnight blue’ hue to surround the entrance. A second feature wall incorporates custom silver back-painted glass to create a relaxing and inviting sitting area.
Laminated glass partitions featuring a proprietary laminated safety glass with custom barley weave pattern define the bar and VIP private dining areas, as they convey a sense of privacy and enhance passenger comfort. The glass also reduces noise transmission, an added comfort-boosting benefit for passengers. A custom bronze mirror helps showcase an extensive wine collection.
