This is a continuation of my posts about my favourite architects from the golden days of architecture (this one is for you janepeepshow). Second up is Eero Saarinen, originally born in Finland in 1910. Relocated to the United States when his family emigrated there in 1923, where he began to study sculpture and furniture design. Saarinen however pursued his ambition to become an architect, his resume contains over 20 buildings.

My favorite Saarinen buildings are the TWA Flight Center at JFK Kennedy Airport in New York and the Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. The Trans World Airlines terminal at JFK is out of this world. The building was built for TWA in 1962 and is totally ultra futuristic and cool. “It was the first airline terminal to have closed circuit television, a central p/a system, baggage carousels, an electronic schedule board…” (source). It has become a landmark which has been featured in many movies, like Catch Me if You Can and Death Wish. The interior looks so swank and futuristic, it is really the essence of what modern jet travel was about in the 1960s. Too bad that they do not build airports like this any longer.

When TWA was bought by American Airlines in 2001 the building fell into decline and was decommissioned. It has then been used as a exhibition center for various events until 2005 when Jet Blue started constructing its new terminal next to it which will incorporate Saarinen’s ultra cool building as a front.

About the author: Chris

Founded Ultra Swank in 2005. Has a crush on Pan Am, Disneyland and the Century 21 Exposition. Lives life as an expat in Barcelona, Spain.

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