I agree that Vancouver is an amazing airport. It would probably make it onto my top 5. However, I've spent a lot of time in the Denver airport, living there for 5 years, and I find it extremely efficient. Clay - SEA -----Original Message----- From: Matthew Montano [mailto:mmontano@xxxxxxxxx]=20 Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 5:33 PM To: The Airline List; Clay Wardlow Subject: Re: Airport Architecture There's a dramatic difference between 'attractive' and 'functional.' Certain airports are constrained by their surroundings (LaGuardia -=20 LGA, Regan -DCA, SanFran -SFO.) Certain airports fit their surroundings (Vancouver - YVR - it=20 essentially fills an island) The most attractive airports are often the least functional. (Denver --=20 horrible in my opinion) The most functional are often the least attractive (Atlanta -=20 efficient, but butt ugly) Some just are things that weren't planned, they just happened; O'Hare=20 for example. Overall, I would nominate my home town airport of Vancouver as one of=20 the better airports (architecturally speaking) in the world. http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=3D663823/M/ http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=3D401874/M/ - The island (Sea Island) is almost completely filled with modern,=20 properly aligned runways - The new terminal (International/USA) is stunning. Multi-story walls=20 of glass looking out to Vancouver, and the mountains beyond. - The US/International arrivals "diorama" which simulates a typical=20 west-coast beach is both welcoming home to British Columbian residents=20 and enticing to tourists (it almost brings tears to my eyes, after=20 being away for a while even if it is somewhat corny=20 http://display.maxvr.com/mapviewer/panoviewer1_yvr.asp?imageid=3D3318) - Stores/Restaurants are excellent including numerous Tim Horton's=20 (Canadian's Intra-venous source of coffee) and 7-Eleven. - My flight can put it's wheels down at 10pm, and I'll be OFF the=20 airport property by 10:15pm. Including clearing customs, collecting=20 baggage and hailing a cab. (For an airport with 20 million PAX per=20 year, that's impressive.) Matthew On 11-Oct-04, at 1:28 PM, Clay Wardlow wrote: > What is your favorite airport, architecturally speaking? > > =3D20 > > What about your least favorite? > > =3D20 > > My fav. - Denver International: > > http://www.airliners.net/open.file/285468/M/ > > BEAUTIFUL! > > =3D20 > > My least fav. - Atlanta Hartsfield: > > http://www.airliners.net/open.file/536924/M/ > > DRAB!=3D20 > > =3D20 > > Clay - SEA > > Fan of great architecture > > =3D20 > > =3D20