UK studio Zaha Hadid Architects has begun construction of an airport in the city of Bishoftu, Ethiopia, which is being billed as "the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history".

Named Bishoftu International Airport (BIA), the terminal is being built 40 kilometres south of the capital Addis Ababa and is hoped to become Africa's global aviation hub.

Zaha Hadid Architects is designing Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia

"Bishoftu International Airport is a visionary project for Ethiopia and Africa as a whole," said Zaha Hadid Architects' director of aviation Cristiano Ceccato de Sabata.

"Airports bring people together and bridge national divides. Zaha Hadid Architects is honoured to be part of its development – connecting every region of the continent as Africa's global gateway."

Being built 40 kilometres south of Addis Ababa

BIA's first phase is scheduled to open in 2030, operated by the carrier Ethiopian Airlines.

This phase will comprise a 660,000-square-metre terminal and two runways that serve 60 million passengers annually. This number is expected to increase to 110 million passengers once the airport is completed with four runways and parking for 270 aircraft.

"Bishoftu International Airport will be the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history, more than four times the capacity of Ethiopia's current main airport, which will reach its limits on existing traffic in the next two to three years,” said Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

It will be "the largest aviation infrastructure project in Africa's history"

BIA will have a modular structure composed of concrete and steel, manufactured locally in Bishoftu.

It will be connected to Addis Ababa and the capital's existing Bole Airport via a high-speed rail.

The terminal will be organised around a central spine

Inside, each of the airport's piers will have unique designs and colour palettes, which Zaha Hadid Architects said will "reflect the diverse regions of Ethiopia".

The terminal plan will be organised around a central spine, modelled on the Great Rift Valley that extends from the Middle East to East Africa.

This spine is hoped to optimise circulation while minimising transfer distances, with 80 per cent of passengers forecasted to transit without leaving the airport.

This high number of transfers means BIA will also incorporate "extensive amenities for transiting passengers", including an airside hotel, dining facilities and outdoor areas landscaped with native plants.

It is expected to accommodate 110 million passengers annually

According to Zaha Hadid Architects, the terminal is designed to achieve LEED Gold – the second-highest certification level awarded by the US Green Building Council.

Natural ventilation and solar shading will be utilised throughout, while photovoltaic arrays will contribute to the terminal's energy demands. The project will be complete with stormwater channels that direct to newly created wetlands and bioswales.

The interior design will "reflect the diverse regions of Ethiopia"

Led by Patrik Schumacher, Zaha Hadid Architects is a UK architecture studio founded in 1979 by the late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. Elsewhere, it is developing the geometric Vilnius Airport terminal in Lithuania.

Its other airport designs include the Western Sydney International Airport, completed with Cox Architecture and Woods Bagot, and the starfish-shaped Beijing Daxing International Airport.

The visuals are by X-Universe.