Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, T4 and T1

Since its first installation at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport in 2022, Circalle has shaped three distinct passenger areas through two projects, in ongoing collaboration with AENA. The first project, in collaboration with architect Gesnaer, refurbished seven commercial plazas in Terminal 4's main concourse. The second project was shaped by Circalle and included two multi-functional zones positioned at Terminal 4 close to the boarding areas and a dedicated rest and seating area in Terminal 1 South Pier. Each project responds to a different moment in the passenger journey and a different spatial brief, but all three are held together by one design language and one starting point: what the passenger needs and where they are in the journey. Across the commercial plazas, accessibility was integrated from the first plan drawing and intentionally added to the design.

The challenge

Madrid-Barajas is one of Europe's busiest international hubs, and Terminal 4 is its largest building. The commercial plazas needed to absorb significantly more passengers within the same footprint while keeping circulation clear and accessibility present throughout every installation. The boarding areas in Terminal 4 needed to serve three distinct functions: work, rest, and waiting, within a single spatial solution. Terminal 1 South Pier needed a self-contained area that could serve any passenger at any point in a layover, regardless of how long remained before boarding.

Each plaza is configured around a combination of Ascent Single and Double Back modules. Developed by Gesnaer, the compositions create a visually varied seating line that shifts between facing orientations within a single continuous arrangement. It gives passengers a choice of position without the layout reading as fragmented.

Planters are integrated throughout. They define the boundary of each seating cluster within the open plaza, and they create a zone behind the seating line where wheelchair users can position themselves alongside companions to enjoy the same sightlines without being directed to a separate accessibility area. The same space accommodates strollers and luggage without narrowing the circulation paths.

Accessibility seating has been considered from the first plan drawing and is integrated seamlessly into the layouts across all seven plazas. Accessible charging points are positioned at the ends of each arrangement, allowing wheelchair users to charge devices without repositioning away from their fellow travellers.

On the north and south sides of the terminal, selected plazas include Seamless Tables and Bar Seaters with integrated charging. These zones function as work areas, informal meeting points, and offer a place to enjoy a snack from the adjoining food court. The higher seating position and table surface change how a person interacts with the space. Rather than merely sitting down, people use the zone to interact with each other and to make use of the time between flights.

In Terminal 1, the brief resolved into a single open area with 360-degree views, including views over the platform, offering one coherent environment that serves any passenger at any point in a layover. A passenger does not need to leave the area to meet a practical need before boarding. The open orientation and complete equipment of several charging points make it self-sufficient, and the 360-degree view allows passengers to see the aircraft as a reminder of the journey ahead.