The secrets behind Terminal 4’s quirky chairs

When you think about the offerings of an airport, its chairs may not be something that instinctively comes to mind. However, if you’ve visited Terminal 4 (T4), Changi Airport’s newest terminal, you may have noticed its bright and colourful chairs – all 30 different types of them, in an assortment of about 40 fabrics, leathers, patterns and colours! Here are some interesting highlights of these quirky chairs that can be found in both the public and transit areas of the terminal.

The little details that make you feel right at home

Upholstered in a combination of solid colours and floral patterns, these chairs come with character... and for some, a nifty side table, complete with charging points.

Those with an eye for detail might realise there’s something distinctly different in the way the chairs in T4 are arranged. As compared to the other terminals, you’ll discover that resting in one of these chairs feels almost like being at home! Having drawn inspiration from the warm and welcoming hotel lounges, the chairs have been arranged in cosy seating clusters so that people can fully relax and feel at ease.

A unique twist (literally) to the more traditional benches.

Apart from lounge seats, explore the other kinds of chairs all around the terminal that are equally comfortable and eye-catching, such as the plush sofas and quirky spiral seats.

Inspired by hotel lounges, these plush sofas are great for sharing seats with friends, loved ones, or even strangers you’ve just met!

These chairs are extra heavy duty – the fabrics they’re made of withstand up to 100,000 ‘rubs’!

Fabrics are coated with water repellent coating to prevent damage or staining from spills.

Besides its intriguing shapes and attractive colours and patterns, these chairs are highly durable as well. As the chairs need to be able to withstand heavy usage by Changi Airport’s passengers over many years, the fabrics used were chosen for their high durability. In fact, a “rub count” test was done for each fabric before it was chosen. During this test, a mechanised arm rubs a piece of heavy canvas over the test fabric back and forth repeatedly. It is only after the fabric starts to show significant wear that its rub count is determined – in the case of T4 chairs, up to 100,000 double rubs!

Stretch of fabric is especially important for such plush seats.

You might also find that the chairs in T4 bounce back to its original shape quickly after it’s vacated – that’s because there was special attention paid to the ‘stretch’ of the fabric, to ensure that these seats are always in tip-top form. There are also chairs around the terminal designed for passengers with reduced mobility, such as chairs that are not too low and with arm rests.

You can find chicken and dog-shaped chairs in the terminal, among other fascinating shapes

Both the young and young at heart will revel in the animal-shaped chairs near the Heritage Zone.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the Peranakan Love Story at the Heritage Zone.

With a whopping 4,844 seats in T4, you can also find “signature” seats all around to enhance the surroundings of the different areas in the terminal.

At the Heritage Zone, watch the Peranakan Love Story in the comfort of large lounge seats or cushy sofas. Little ones can also have some fun on the vibrant-coloured chairs, in the shape of dogs and chicks in the same area.

There is also a towering spiral chair in vivid orange – the perfect backdrop for pictures!

From animals to nature, the designs of T4’s chairs are whimsical yet functional and comfortable.

The colours of the chairs do more than just brightening up the terminal

Besides lifting the look of the boarding area, these coloured seats serve as markers too.

The design of the terminal allows for generous amounts of natural light to stream in. The sunlight, coupled with the brightly-coloured chairs, gives T4 a bright and welcoming feel. The colours of the chairs have a practical purpose too!

For example, as the areas around T4’s boarding gates do not have any physical separation between them, the seat colours are used to create identifiable clusters. This special feature helps passengers identify the different areas to relax in, while waiting to board their flights.

Whether it’s the colours, designs, or even the fabric patterns, do take the time to explore T4 and its quirky chairs. Better yet, bring your friends and loved ones so that you’ll feel right at home!