Travel notes

Located 16 kilometres south-east of the centre of Budapest, Ferenc Liszt International Airport has two terminals and is the largest of the country’s four commercial airports. It recently underwent an extensive redevelopment and upgrade project that included expanding the transit zone and introducing a new retail area called the Sky Court which offers a wide range of dining and shopping options. Awarded to the Hungarian construction company Kesz KFT, which had already carried out the redevelopment of Terminals T2A and T2B as well as the construction of a new boarding gate, the Sky Court project marks the culmination of an extensive modernisation programme that has transformed the airport into a state-of-the-art facility in terms of its technology, services and architectural quality. The project’s success can largely be attributed to the adoption of visually striking construction solutions, such as expansive glass surfaces, well-lit and inviting spaces and a rational organisation of internal distribution routes. No less importantly, it offers passenger-friendly spaces with first-class amenities as well as sophisticated interior design characterised by architectural excellence and innovative use of materials. The elegant design language of the iconic new Sky Court building serves as the guiding principle for a compositional approach that includes several leading Italian brands. One of these is Novabell, whose Oxy concrete-look porcelain tile collection has been used to striking effect in some of the airport’s new transit areas. Selected in the sophisticated Anthracite finish, Oxy boasts a contemporary and harmonious aesthetic deriving from textures that enhance the material qualities of the surfaces. At the same time, it provides reliable performance, even when installed in high-traffic environments. The technical qualities of porcelain stoneware and the non-slip properties of the R10 B certified surface guarantee high wear resistance and safe walkability. At the same time, the use of spherical vitreous micro-grits incorporated into the glazes ensures exceptional ease of cleaning, a characteristic that is particularly important in applications in public spaces. A total of more than 10,000 square metres of Oxy tiles in a 60×60 cm size were installed in the retail, transit and waiting areas of Ferenc Liszt Airport, achieving a visually cohesive look together with a high level of functionality.