The World Lounge of the Istanbul International Airport designed by Karim Rashid.

Governments would go the extra length of tapping world-renowned architects to design their airports—places that will make the initial statement to travelers on the state of affairs in their respective countries. It boosts the airport’s reputation if the designer belongs to a select group of “starchitects” or has won a Pritzker, considered the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in the field of architecture.

Airport lounges, however, are a different matter. The look is invariably industrial, with metallic chairs, dirty ashtrays, and newspapers haphazardly thrown on what serves as a coffee table. It seems that they are simply places to wait in and not much else; as I write this, I’m thinking of the character of Tom Hanks in “The Terminal” holed up in JFK airport. The first-class passengers have an easier life, certainly, with their glass of orange juice and glossy magazines. But they too wait, nonetheless, unless they hit the duty free shops and begin to spend merrily.

Karim Rashid, who visited the country a couple of years back, seeks to renegotiate on how we see—and use—airport lounges. For him, they overflow with design potential which can be channeled into various pockets of spaces that will make the traveler’s life more engaged. He wants to give lounges a jolt with his characteristic hyper-real touch, which makes walls vibrate, space expand and curve, and furniture convey the notion of movement.

“All airports are characterized by an omnipresent paradox of the excitement and energy of traveling versus the utter tranquility of having no other options but waiting,” he explains. “This paradox creates the need for a space that will intensify any traveling experience, yet at the same time encourage complete relaxation and rejuvenation of mind, body, and soul.”

His meaning of excitement is within the context of in-the-now, which is concerned mostly with the evocation of sensation. “In a world where people are becoming increasingly visually conscious and info-savvy, any environment created should be perpetually stimulating,” he says. “When encountering a space one should feel excited about being there.”

This vision of a super-cool airport lounge finally comes true with World Lounge, located at the Istanbul International Airport (Turkey), which Karim designed last year. Imagine a place where, after you’ve dutifully passed your luggage through X-ray, declared your possessions to customs and procured you’re boarding pass; you are suddenly welcomed by a surreal mix of curves and lines, Op-Art walls, and chubby chairs in pink and indigo. For once, you find a place where you don’t actually feel hustled by the comings and goings of fellow travelers and actually invite you and absorb the terrific visual sensation assailing you from all sides—until, of course, your flight details are actually called.

“With World Lounge for Yapi Kredi Bank I set out to design an interior that changes the paradigm of the airport lounge,” says Karim. “Most lounges are uninspiring and I feel neither relaxed nor energized. I was most interested in imbuing some sense of energy into the traveler—to make their trip start with a unique experience—by ‘synergizing’ Yapi Kredi’s can-do attitude with the soothing aura of balance, design, and technology.” 

What Karim also did was to slice, rather sinuously, the space into eight discrete pockets devoted to different kinds of activities. In “Invite (entrance),” sliding glass doors reveal a boomerang desk, enticing the eye on the circular doorways of the lounge. A LED screen displays images culled from fantasy and reality, no doubt announcing its difference from other airport lounges.  

What’s a lounge without the Internet? In “Connect (computer areas),” travelers enter circular doorways that lead to custom tables and Kloud chairs. Each seat is Internet ready and spotlighted by an organic Bokka lamp. Those who want to have a quick shut-eye can proceed to “Dream (beds).” Described as “cool blue, curved softly and restful with dimmable cove lights for a fast nap between flights,” the beds provide the element of surprise. 

Those who just want to chill out can go to either “Recline (sit and relax)” where, “under the glow of a vast figure eight light fixture,” travelers simply wait out time on a Zanotta couch, situated on top of a frosted illuminated glass floor or to “Revive (closed relax)” where those constantly hooked to their i-Pods can find a piece of heaven in a Kloud chair located in room with cove lights.

Businessmen who want a quick session can proceed to “Engage (meeting)” where a last minute review of report can be discussed under a Floob pendant and while seated in Poly chairs. Cravings are properly addressed by “Absorb (eat)”— where pastries and coffee can be savored in a Kab chair—and “Indulge (smoke)” where smokers can puff away on Kant stools in a room with a low-voltage halogen lamp directed on smokers and a central fan, keeping the smoke off from other travelers.

Now, who says that lounges are only made for waiting?