When Renzo Piano first visited the site for the new Kansai airport, he had to travel by boat from Osaka harbor. There was no land to build on. Instead, the airport was constructed on an artificial island resting on piles.
Inspired by this challenge, Piano drew sketches of a large glider landing on the proposed island. He then modeled his plan for the airport after the shape of an airplane with corridors stretching out like wings from a main hall.