The United Airlines CTO space in Santa Fe is conceived as a three-dimensional translation of the airline experience, bringing the language of aircraft cabins and jetways into a compact commercial front. The design emphasizes dynamism, clarity of orientation, and a sense of technological precision, reflecting the identity of an international carrier while responding to the high-traffic context of a corporate and retail hub.
The envelope is treated as a continuous fuselage-like shell that folds from ceiling to façade and frames the check-in counters in a single gesture. This sculpted geometry guides the eye from the public corridor into the service area, reinforcing a narrative of movement, boarding, and connection. The overall image projects efficiency and reliability, while remaining approachable and human-scaled.
The plan is organized as a linear sequence parallel to the storefront, optimizing visibility and user flow. A generous front zone behind the glass façade acts as a transition foyer, allowing users to read information, queue comfortably, or wait, without obstructing circulation in the mall.
The check-in line is set back slightly from the glass, creating a clear queueing corridor that intuitively orients passengers toward the service desks. Counters are modular and rhythmically repeated, allowing flexible staffing levels and easy reconfiguration. Peripheral niches integrate seating, informal work surfaces, and secondary services, making efficient use of the narrow depth of the unit.
The dominant volumetric element is a folded canopy that originates at the storefront and extends deep into the space. Its sharp, faceted geometry recalls the aerodynamic profiles of an aircraft wing, while also concealing technical systems such as air conditioning, cabling, and indirect lighting.
Recessed linear LED strips and perimeter cove lighting wash the ceiling planes, emphasizing the broken, angular forms and producing a floating effect over the counters. Accent blue lighting introduces a subtle chromatic gradient that reinforces brand recognition and contributes to a calm, travel-oriented atmosphere. Downlights over the work surfaces ensure optimal visual comfort and task illumination, reducing glare on screens and documents.
The material palette combines high-performance laminates, back-painted glass, and metal finishes in a controlled range of whites, grays, and blues. This restrained composition produces a clean, technical aesthetic aligned with aeronautical engineering and contemporary corporate architecture.
Blue wall panels with subtle graphic patterns form a continuous backdrop for the counters, integrating the airline’s visual identity without resorting to excessive signage. White and light gray surfaces maximize light diffusion and maintain visual clarity, while a contrasting yellow vertical plane at the side introduces a single, vivid accent that anchors the entrance and aids wayfinding. Upholstered seating elements and a small timber side table introduce tactile warmth within the otherwise sleek environment.
The counters are designed as hybrid analog-digital stations, with integrated monitors and equipment concealed within minimalist volumes to avoid visual clutter. The height and depth of the worktops are calibrated for ergonomic interaction between staff and passengers, facilitating document handling, device placement, and accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
Wall-mounted screens behind the counters act as both branding devices and dynamic information carriers, capable of displaying destinations, promotions, or operational messages. This layered information strategy ensures that essential content is legible from the corridor as well as from within the space, enhancing communication and operational flexibility.
Sustainability is approached through efficient systems, durable materials, and adaptable design. LED lighting throughout the project minimizes energy consumption and maintenance, while the indirect lighting strategy reduces the number of fixtures required to achieve uniform illumination. The bright, reflective interior surfaces contribute to higher light efficacy, allowing lower installed wattage.
Materials are selected for longevity and ease of cleaning in a high-traffic commercial environment, reducing replacement cycles and associated environmental impact. Modular counter components and demountable wall panels enable future reconfiguration, extending the service life of the fit-out and minimizing construction waste. The fully glazed façade optimizes visual connection and relies on the mall’s existing climate control, reducing the need for extensive additional HVAC equipment within the unit.
The United Airlines CTO space in Santa Fe is conceived as a three-dimensional translation of the airline experience, bringing the language of aircraft cabins and jetways into a compact commercial front. The design emphasizes dynamism, clarity of orientation, and a sense of technological precision, reflecting the identity of an international carrier while responding to the high-traffic context of a corporate and retail hub.
The envelope is treated as a continuous fuselage-like shell that folds from ceiling to façade and frames the check-in counters in a single gesture. This sculpted geometry guides the eye from the public corridor into the service area, reinforcing a narrative of movement, boarding, and connection. The overall image projects efficiency and reliability, while remaining approachable and human-scaled.
The plan is organized as a linear sequence parallel to the storefront, optimizing visibility and user flow. A generous front zone behind the glass façade acts as a transition foyer, allowing users to read information, queue comfortably, or wait, without obstructing circulation in the mall.
The check-in line is set back slightly from the glass, creating a clear queueing corridor that intuitively orients passengers toward the service desks. Counters are modular and rhythmically repeated, allowing flexible staffing levels and easy reconfiguration. Peripheral niches integrate seating, informal work surfaces, and secondary services, making efficient use of the narrow depth of the unit.
The dominant volumetric element is a folded canopy that originates at the storefront and extends deep into the space. Its sharp, faceted geometry recalls the aerodynamic profiles of an aircraft wing, while also concealing technical systems such as air conditioning, cabling, and indirect lighting.
Recessed linear LED strips and perimeter cove lighting wash the ceiling planes, emphasizing the broken, angular forms and producing a floating effect over the counters. Accent blue lighting introduces a subtle chromatic gradient that reinforces brand recognition and contributes to a calm, travel-oriented atmosphere. Downlights over the work surfaces ensure optimal visual comfort and task illumination, reducing glare on screens and documents.
The material palette combines high-performance laminates, back-painted glass, and metal finishes in a controlled range of whites, grays, and blues. This restrained composition produces a clean, technical aesthetic aligned with aeronautical engineering and contemporary corporate architecture.
Blue wall panels with subtle graphic patterns form a continuous backdrop for the counters, integrating the airline’s visual identity without resorting to excessive signage. White and light gray surfaces maximize light diffusion and maintain visual clarity, while a contrasting yellow vertical plane at the side introduces a single, vivid accent that anchors the entrance and aids wayfinding. Upholstered seating elements and a small timber side table introduce tactile warmth within the otherwise sleek environment.
The counters are designed as hybrid analog-digital stations, with integrated monitors and equipment concealed within minimalist volumes to avoid visual clutter. The height and depth of the worktops are calibrated for ergonomic interaction between staff and passengers, facilitating document handling, device placement, and accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
Wall-mounted screens behind the counters act as both branding devices and dynamic information carriers, capable of displaying destinations, promotions, or operational messages. This layered information strategy ensures that essential content is legible from the corridor as well as from within the space, enhancing communication and operational flexibility.
Sustainability is approached through efficient systems, durable materials, and adaptable design. LED lighting throughout the project minimizes energy consumption and maintenance, while the indirect lighting strategy reduces the number of fixtures required to achieve uniform illumination. The bright, reflective interior surfaces contribute to higher light efficacy, allowing lower installed wattage.
Materials are selected for longevity and ease of cleaning in a high-traffic commercial environment, reducing replacement cycles and associated environmental impact. Modular counter components and demountable wall panels enable future reconfiguration, extending the service life of the fit-out and minimizing construction waste. The fully glazed façade optimizes visual connection and relies on the mall’s existing climate control, reducing the need for extensive additional HVAC equipment within the unit.
Nuestras oficinas están en Barcelona, Cancún, Chicago y Santo Domingo, pero gracias a la tecnología podemos desarrollar proyectos en cualquier parte del mundo.
Barcelona
Bac de Roda 136
08020, Barcelona
Spain
Madrid
Av. de Buendía 11
19005 Guadalajara (Madrid)
Spain
Chicago
373 Hazel Ave, Apt A1
60022, Glencoe, Illinois
United States