Aspire Westjet Lounge by MRDK

Located within the Transborder terminal of Calgary International Airport, the Aspire WestJet Garden Lounge by MRDK redefines the experience of air travel waiting areas. Designed as a tranquil expansion of the existing Aspire lounge, the project introduces a bold spatial transformation: the idea of walking from the lounge into a garden.

This design concept is materialized through a new opening carved into the original wall of the lounge, allowing passengers to flow seamlessly into the addition. The new space is defined by 40-foot ceilings, expansive skylights, and a full-height curtain wall, establishing an atmosphere of openness and daylight rarely associated with airport interiors. The result is both poetic and practical—a green retreat where travelers can rest, recharge, and reconnect before their journey.

Infrastructure and Planning Challenges

The planning process was marked by a major technical constraint: coring into the existing concrete floor was not possible. This limitation presented a challenge in delivering the modern lounge experience, where every guest expects charging capabilities at their seat.

The design team’s solution was both infrastructural and spatial. A network of raised planter boxes was introduced, concealing the necessary cabling and power outlets while simultaneously organizing the lounge layout. These planters not only solved the technical dilemma but also introduced lush greenery, enriching the atmosphere and strengthening the garden concept. They serve as both infrastructural devices and architectural elements that define circulation paths, subtly guiding guests through the space while framing seating zones.

A Sequence of Zones

The spatial organization of the lounge unfolds in a series of distinct yet interconnected zones, each designed to cater to different traveler needs and moods.

• Entry Zone: Guests first encounter residential-scaled seating arrangements, with two-seater couches paired with lounge chairs. These intimate groupings evoke the comfort of a living room, offering a soft landing for weary travelers.

• The Bar: At the center, a rhombus-shaped island bar immediately captures attention. Its elevated shelving structure is crowned with a lush, cascading planter, reinforcing the garden motif and making the bar both a social focal point and a sculptural element.

• Adjacent Planter Island: Echoing the bar’s geometry, a similarly shaped planter anchors a series of two-person booths. The alternating compression and release of these seating pockets create rhythm and movement throughout the lounge.

Other seating configurations add richness and variety. Along the eastern edge, a low green banquette runs the length of the wall, punctuated with custom wood-and-steel café tables. In a more sculptural gesture, half-round niches are carved into the east-side planter, fitted with upholstered banquettes that transform into cozy dining alcoves.

Custom Detailing and Materiality

Attention to detail elevates the lounge from a mere transit space to a refined architectural experience. Custom steel tables cantilever off the planters, wrapping upward to integrate soft-glow table lamps at each seat, ensuring comfort and convenience.

The material and color palette reinforces the project’s identity as a calming oasis. Warm earth tones—muted greens, deep browns, and soft neutrals—evoke natural landscapes. These tones are paired with textures of wood, steel, and lush planting, creating an environment that feels grounded and serene despite its location within a bustling airport.

Lighting design plays a critical role. Layered and deliberately soft, it enhances the calming atmosphere, providing warmth without glare. Combined with natural daylight filtering through skylights and the curtain wall, the effect is a space that feels alive, balanced, and restorative.

A Living Beacon Within the Terminal

From the terminal concourse, the new lounge announces itself with a striking presence. Lush greenery is visible through the glazing, offering a refreshing visual contrast to the surrounding airport environment. A glowing Aspire sign, seemingly floating amidst the vegetation, acts as both beacon and invitation. For travelers navigating the terminal, this glimpse of greenery signals a haven where they can pause and recharge.

The project ultimately transforms a practical airport amenity into a garden-like sanctuary, embodying the dual meaning of recharge—restoring both devices and human energy.

Redefining Airport Hospitality

The Aspire WestJet Lounge demonstrates how constraints can inspire creativity. By turning infrastructural challenges into design opportunities, MRDK created a space that is at once functional, poetic, and deeply attuned to user comfort.

In an environment often associated with stress, haste, and fatigue, the lounge provides a soothing counterpoint—an environment where architecture, landscape, and hospitality merge. It is both a functional extension of the Aspire lounge and a symbolic redefinition of airport design, suggesting that even in transient spaces, moments of peace and beauty can be cultivated.

Photography: David Dworkind