Project name: KSA MicroLiving Airport: The World Smartest airport

Architecture firm: [MC] Studios

Area: 30,000 m²

Year: 2024

KSA MicroLiving Airport was designed to challenge Architecture, logistics, and the digital systems that have built airports since the beginning of our travelling culture, which has seen no reinvention, no optimisation, no second thoughts and no upgrade for passenger experience for decades.

Designed under Saudi Vision 2030, this airport was designed in two realities: a physical built and its live Digital Twin. Both, physical and virtual, are driven by AI and layered with XR for real-time spatial interaction, with passenger experience at heart.

What is visionary: AI manages passenger flow, biometric check-in, air traffic, baggage logistics, scheduling, and predictive maintenance. XR enables spatial guidance, contextual navigation, retail and entertainment overlays. The layout includes six runways, four underground satellite piers, and a 6 km² terminal combining housing, childcare, workspace, and cultural programming. Underground villas and private jet gates introduce new living typologies for passenger and aviation flow, comfort, entertainment and rest.

The Team

A team of 15 architects from [MC] Studios (London based) and NAAR (buenos aires) architected this full system. From planning, spatial design, 3D, live gameplay in Unreal Engine, AI rendering, AI agent-avatar design, and AI storytelling. Over 12 multidisciplinary software and 3 platforms were used. All assets were built in-house. There was no outsourcing. No automation running over human-talent.

We aim to change airport culture into a stress-free, experience-led journey. It is built by Architects. It is made for people.