From Weinheim to Osaka:
Cleared for take-off – precision landing for nora

Four kilometres long and 1,200 metres wide, this artificial island is made up of around 430 million cubic meters of clay. Located in the bay off the Japanese metropolis of Osaka, it was created to allow international flights to take off and land around the clock. Built in 1994, Kansai International Airport (KIX) was the world’s first airport to be constructed on a man-made island and is connected to the mainland by a 3.75 km access bridge. The terminal building is another special feature. At 1.7 km in length, it is the world’s longest structure of its kind and houses more than 160 restaurants, cafés and stores. The immense complex is the work of Italian master architect Renzo Piano. His splendid design curves elegantly alongside the runway and offers a spectacular welcome.
 

Almost 32 million people took off or landed at Kansai Airport in 2019 alone. Little wonder then that the design team chose a wear-resistant, durable, flame-retardant and easy-to-clean rubber flooring, which is still providing excellent service today. But it wasn't just the functional qualities that were decisive; the innovative spirit of the Weinheim-based company helped to convince Renzo Piano. Originally, he had planned to use his favoured stone tiles, but this was simply not feasible over such a large area. 40,000 m2 of solid stone was going to be too much weight for the island to bear. As a result, the structural engineers refused to implement his initial scheme. The sheer weight of the airport would have been too much and there was a real risk of the island sinking. Piano agreed to compromise but asked for a lighter, more robust floor that would look identical. After around 18 months of constant development, he got what he wanted. Based on the norament deco floor covering, the norament special design 22 perfectly imitated the originally planned terrazzo floor. Renzo Piano was happy and nora achieved a precision landing at Kansai Island Airport.

Project at a glance