Designing TWA: Eero Saarinen's Airport Terminal in New York

When it opened in 1962, the TWA Flight Center at New York s JFK airport was a sensation. Created by Eero Saarinen with a distinctly birdlike design, it was instantly seen as a striking emblem of the romance of air travel. More than half a century later, it remains a beloved icon of modern architecture.
Designing TWA is the first book to tell the whole story of Saarinen s building, from its early planning through its closing in 2001 after the takeover of TWA by American Airlines. Documenting the terminal s commission, planning, building, and use, architect Kornel Ringli reveals the constant tension between the operational needs of the airline and Saarinen s visionary imaginings revealing the TWA building as an incredible architectural achievement that nonetheless failed to meet the day-to-day demands of the business it housed. Lavishly illustrated with archival photographs, Designing TWA is an unprecedented look behind the scenes at the making of a modern masterpiece.