A year has passed since the new Beijing airport opened its doors to travellers ahead of the Summer Olympic Games and the stunning design is just one of many airport buildings to have been designed by famous architects.

Architect Sir Norman Foster designed the new airport terminal built for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and Brazilian born architect John Gaw Meem designed New Mexico Airport's terminal in the Pueblo Revival style.

Heathrow's Terminal 5 building, the largest free standing building in the UK, which opened last year, was designed by Sir Richard Rogers and Sir Norman Foster was also instrumental in the design of Stansted Airport which opened in 1991.

Terminal design is always a challenge as architects are expected to combine attractive design whilst at the same time providing a space that can accommodate both current and future airport technology. It is easy for architects to favour their leanings towards architectural exuberance but they need to balance that with creating a building that provides a pleasant environment too so temperature control and lighting are important.

Another spectacular airport is the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand which opened in 2006. Architect Helmut Jahn designed innovative and environmental structures that were built using modern construction techniques and advanced technologies. In such a tropical climate a large airport building providing so much daylight presented some major challenges in terms of cooling.

Last year a new terminal building was opened at Paphos airport in Cyprus and a new terminal at Larnaca is due to complete this year. Also opening later this year is the new South terminal building at Barcelona. The airport's second terminal, designed by architect Ricardo Bofill, opened in time for the 1992 Summer Olympics and Bofill was again fundamental in the design of the new terminal which will accommodate 25 million passengers per year.