If you are not familiar with the latest aviation building designs, you might be surprised by the latest innovations. The earliest known structures were known as aeroplane sheds. According to Wikipedia, these were introduced in the early 1900s. The first shed known was used by the famous Wright brothers. A simple wooden barn shed was used to house small planes. However, it did not take much time to see advancement in design. Less than 20 years later, a hangar was designed with steel. Steel proved to maximize the size, leading the way for today’s hangars.
Hangar 7 might not be the largest, but it showcases the architectural advancements in building structure. Designed by architect Volkmar Burgstaller, it is located in Salzburg, Austria. Hangar 7 serves as a multi-functional building. Constructed of glass and steel, it offers views from any angle. This allows the 25 historical planes, helicopters, and racing cars shown on display to be seen from air and land. A tourist attraction, it even houses a restaurant inside. Hangar 7 does not resemble the traditional box frame. It is sphere shaped in appearance. Two tall glass cylinder towers can be seen attached to the structure. You can view this glass spectacle here.
Tectonic Management Group states, “Going green is a hot topic today. We have seen advancements with this in the automobile and traditional building industries. Now you can see it in aviation as well.” Jet Hangar 25 is the world’s first platinum LEED certified hangar. What does this mean? Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This plaque is a stamp of green building design. Impressively, Hangar 25 was built for the same cost as a traditional hangar. You guessed it; solar panels are the primary drive of this hangar. Solar energy not only feeds this hangar’s requirements, but it produced enough to share with the surrounding areas. The focus here was not the rate of return, but rather on lifecycle. Hangar 25 will lead the path to future green construction.
Aerium, now used as a tropical resort, deserves mention here due to its enormous design. It is the largest building on Earth by volume. This hall makes the innovative list due to its ability to stand without any structural pillars within its massive size. The company went bankrupt and never housed a carrier.
The aviation industry is ever growing. Where there are planes, there are hangars, and this no doubt will bring about new architecture. The impressive designs of the 1900s showcase the endless possibilities in engineering and design.
