Japanese architects are getting out of the blocks in terms of promoting active design ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with Narita Airport’s newly-opened Terminal 3 centred around an indoor running track.

The Tokyo Olympics looks set to have a strong theme of active design, with London-based architects Arup set to masterplan the Games. The cycling helmet-shaped Olympic Stadium has been masterminded by Zaha Hadid, while several other wellness-related facilities are also in the pipeline ahead of the Games.

Tokyo-based creative lab Party led the innovative airport project, which sees a colour-coded circuit of running lanes help passengers navigate the terminal. There are no moving walkways in the terminal, with Party chief creative officer Naoki Ito aiming to promote activity in a playful manner.



"I was on the track team in elementary school and I thought that it would be interesting if we could capture the positive feeling that occurs in the moment of running,” Ito told Health Club Management.

“To offer an exciting walking experience that is easy on the feet, we implemented running tracks used for track and field, which also serve as clear signage for user-friendly guidance.”

The Narita Airport project was three years in the making and the lack of expensive walkways and illuminated signage used in the terminal meant that it cost roughly half the usual amount. Ito said the airport’s preparations for the Olympics and the fact that Terminal 3 will be exclusively used by low-cost airlines meant that 'physical activity meets economy' was a perfect theme for the project.

“For me, the key to great architecture and design is fitting 2+ into 1,” added Ito. “ We always seek to consolidate two or more functionalities into one in pursuit of economic reasonability. In short, we as an agency treasure innovative designs which provide an affordable twist on the norm.”