Airport lounges serve as oases of peace and comfort, exclusive spaces that allow passengers a respite from the stress of travel as they await their flights. They offer premium services such as gourmet cuisine, complimentary beverages, high-speed Wi-Fi and dedicated spaces for work and relaxation. Created by individual airlines, access to these lounges is typically gained through membership programmes or the purchase of premium travel tickets. In addition to comfortable seating and workspaces, they often also offer showers and personalised assistance with the aim of enhancing the travel experience for both leisure and business passengers.
The new Latam lounge in the Arturo Merino Benítez airport in Santiago de Chile, designed by Chilean architectural firm Grupo Arquitectos and situated in the new Terminal 2, was built at the height of the Covid pandemic. The client, Latin America’s foremost airline holding company, wanted to replace the airport’s existing VIP area with the largest airport lounge in the entire subcontinent. Extending over a space of 4,300 square metres on two floors, it fully meets the needs of travellers seeking comfort and tranquillity.
Led by Bruno Frugone of Enrique Concha & Co., the interior design project aimed to offer passengers a peaceful retreat and a connection with nature and the South American landscape. This theme is vividly portrayed across three distinct zones within the lounge, each evoking the vast and varied South American landscape through the use of lighting, furniture and colour schemes. The design incorporates thematic colours representing the snow-capped Andes, the earthy hues of the land, and the dark tones of southern Chile’s volcanoes, organising the space into World Member, Premium and Signature areas, all accessible through a shared entrance.
Italian ceramic tiles play an essential role in creating the desired ambience and establishing a connection with the local landscape, with the designers opting in particular for large, thin slabs from Laminam’s sustainable and innovative I Naturali and Seta collections in 5+ mm and 12+ mm thicknesses. The polished surfaces Bianco Statuario, Nero Greco and Noir Desir from the I Naturali collection were chosen for their aesthetic appeal and versatility for the floors, walls, ceilings and countertops. For the entrance areas, the Seta collection introduces a soft material effect in the colours Gris (World Member), Glacé (Premium) and Liquorice (Signature), a design choice that continues into the bathrooms.
Sustainability is central to the Latam Lounge concept, reflecting the airline’s commitment since 2015 to minimise the ecological footprint and greenhouse gas emissions of both its aircraft and its infrastructure. For this purpose, 80% of the lounge’s energy requirements are met from renewable sources, and recycled or recyclable materials are used instead of leather for its interiors. This commitment to sustainability is further underscored by an exhibition of 60 sculptures by emerging South American artists, made from recycled materials to symbolise the continent’s new environmental ethos.
