blue house
JFK Airport, New York
Design: Gensler
Awards:
NYCxDesign | Winner | 2026
Description:
Jet Blue’s first airport lounge spans 9,000sf across two floors of Terminal 5 at JFK. As “New York’s Hometown Airline,” the Blue House lounge is designed to resemble a New York City apartment, and features local art, books, and a mural that nods to Grand Central Terminal’s ceiling.
Goal:
The goal was to document the pristine, unblemished geometry and sweeping architectural lines of the lounge while it was vacant. However shooting during peak operational hours past TSA security checkpoints just moments before the doors opened to travelers created several logistical hurdles.
Approach:
My approach to overcoming these hurdles relied heavily on a choreographed staging strategy that integrated models and airline employees into the scene to give the terminal some human energy and movement. I also used specialized, directional lighting configurations to accentuate the signature architectural curves, while framing the distinct city skyline.
