Studio Duncalf is a specialist in airport design, helping airports and operators maximise the value of their commercial space through strategic planning, commercial analysis and outstanding interior design. Our expertise includes airport F&B masterplanning, airport restaurant design, airport bar design, airport food hall design and airport lounge design across the UK and Europe. While this is never our specific objective, many of our projects have been recognised in the wider industry and have won awards.
Designing successful commercial environments in airports requires a unique combination of operational understanding, passenger insight and commercial thinking. We work with airports, landlords and hospitality operators to unlock the potential of commercial space at every stage of a project. Through sketch planning, modelling and visualisation we analyse customer flow, adjacencies and visibility of units at different points of the customer journey.
Our work extends beyond creating attractive interiors. We develop commercial environments that perform operationally, strengthen the airport's retail and hospitality offer and contribute to a distinctive sense of place resulting in higher passenger satisfaction, longer dwell times and increased non-aeronautical revenue.
Studio Duncalf has delivered airport hospitality and commercial design projects for airports including London Heathrow, London City, Copenhagen Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, Birmingham Airport and many others, working with airport operators and leading hospitality brands to create memorable spaces that benefit both travellers and our clients.
We have designed dozens of airport restaurants, bars, cafes and food halls over the past decade and a half. In our experience there are a variety of factors in making a successful project. Generally we are aiming to balance the functional needs of various types of traveller such as speed and ease through the terminal alongside their desire to enjoy good quality food and drink in a pleasant environment. Other factors for success include creating spaces which stand out against their competition, restaurants and bars that evoke a sense of place, spaces that utilise technology for the benefit of both the customer and the operator.
Design appropriate to the airport environment and the needs of the particular target market are critical factors. Solo business travellers, families, groups of friends all have different while often overlapping needs, ensuring that these are catered to.
In terms of layout, customer flow, and the way that the F&B and the other non-aviation, commercial activities fit together, yes we can. We have worked with a number of airports directly and also with major airport F&B operators to conduct detailed F&B masterplans which maximise commercial performance and customer satisfaction.
Airport F&B design is a specialist area and there are many factors that differ from designing restaurants, bars, food halls and cafes outside this environment. It is often much more complex to service the BOH operation of airport F&B spaces once they are up and running, passenger flows can very considerably throughout the day and throughout the year. The main international hubs on the other hand experience very high traffic. Speed of service is also critical in this environment. Design therefore most balance customer experience with storage (BOH and FOH), queuing, accessibility as well as creating great spaces where people will want to spend their time.
We have designed lounges and other non F&B projects in airports.
Yes, we have delivered airport projects in Denmark, France, Netherlands as well as the UK.
