Google Earth image of existing KLIA and its proposed extensions. Source: http://www.mygreentech.blogspot.com.

The ecological infrastructure – a green corridor – is still in the planning stage. This will gradually develop as a corridor and network as the individual plans for the Kuala Lumpur’s linear capital corridor progress. The notion of a symbiosis between the forest and the new airport was conceived as part of the ecological corridor. Palm and rubber trees are being cultivated around the airport, acting as an experiment to artificially regenerate Malaysia’s tropical rain forest. In Japan, it requires 75 to 100 years for seedlings to grow to a height of 30 m, but Malaysian weather conditions will make this possible in just 20 years, so the idea of creating an artificial airport over a generation becomes achievable. The surrounding forest will also act as an effective method for blocking the airport sound as well as expressing Malaysian identity – one of the world’s largest tropical rain forests is located in the Sarawak region.

Miniature rainforest in the centre of each satellite. Source: http://www.skyscrapercity.com.

The symbiosis between nature and airport goes beyond the forest planned for the surrounding landscape. In addition, a miniature tropical rain forest will be recreated inside the airport grounds between the main terminal building and the contact pier, and in the central garden in the centre of each satellite building. Passengers using KLIA will invariably come into contact with this forest, experiencing the Malaysian landscape and a very particular sense of place.

Kurokawa’s notion of ecological symbiosis has even more profound implications. Planting a forest to serve as a sound buffer and protect the environment provided the impetus for conducting a series of more wide reaching ecological experiments. For instance, the choice of the species of trees in the new rainforest can be used to control the nutrients that permeate and are expelled from the soil. Existing rivers guide these nutrients to the sea, so introducing a generation of plant and animal plankton. The plankton-rich waters will provide Malaysia with new coastal fishing grounds. In Japan, such an experiment already has been carried out by a fisherman’s co-operative to regenerate coastal fishing grounds by planting a new deciduous forest.

Another ecological experiment aims to create a residential environment in which the buildings and the forests will be in symbiosis in an extremely overt way. Planting tall trees close to buildings creates shade and natural ventilation, making it possible to plan new buildings without the need for energy-wasteful air conditioning.

Source: Sharp, Dennis & Slessor, Catherine. Kisho Kurokawa: Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Edition Axel Menges. Stuttgart and London: 1999.