What makes the world’s best airport tick? Beyond the architecture, shopping, and gardens lies a hidden engine — a living system of automation, robotics, and human ingenuity working in perfect sync.In this episode of Building Blocks: Living Machines, we go inside the future of Changi Airport with Li San Poh, Senior Vice President of Terminal 5 Planning at Changi Airport Group, and Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia.From her unconventional journey as a helicopter pilot to leading one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Asia, Li San shares how search-and-rescue missions shaped her mindset for building resilient systems.We explore:Why designing for uncertainty and contingency is critical at airport scaleHow carpets, chairs, and art installations reveal the hidden trade-offs in making airports feel like homeThe role of automation and robotics in tackling labor shortages and creating safer, more sustainable ground operationsWhy Changi works with both incumbents and startups—and what separates successful collaborations from failed onesLi San’s philosophy on leadership, innovation, and fearlessness in the face of uncertaintyFrom the quiet details (like carpet pile height) to massive industry-shaping bets (automation of apron operations), this conversation shows why Changi isn’t just an airport— it’s a national icon and a testbed for the future of human-machine collaboration.Follow us for more industry stories, unique perspectives, and career opportunities: https://www.linkedin.com/company/granite-asia/

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