Designing TWA

When Eero Saarinen's Flight Centre for Trans World Airlines (TWA) opened at New York's JFK International Airport in 1962 it was a sensation. It represented a significant change in architectural thinking, allowing TWA to polish its image by means of a building, clearly distinguishing it from other airlines. Saarinen's striking design got much publicity throughout its operational life until closure in 2001. It was regarded an emblem of the jet-age, yet it never really suited its operational requirements. When the new B747 Jumbo Jet arrived in 1970, it already proved outdated and inefficient for the number of passengers using it. Designing TWA for the first time tells the entire story of TWA terminal at JFK. It documents its architecture in area of conflict between flight operations, design and public relations. It also investigates how the building remained an icon of jet-propelled aviation while never properly serving its purpose for just that industry. The new book features a wealth of images showing the TWA Flight Center in all its beauty, alongside many documents and plans. The concise text offers much detail, reaching far beyond previous publications on one of the world's best-known buildings.