Recently, Open House New York gave architecture and aviation fans a thrill when they hosted an inside look at the landmark TWA Flight Center in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Designed by famed architect and industrial designer Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962, a year after his death, its distinctive curves and flight wings hark back to a more glamorous era of flight. Noted architect Robert A.M. Stern has called the terminal the “Grand Central of the jet age.”

The TWA terminal has been closed to the public since 2001 and is currently under renovation; representatives of Open House New York, which allows people to tour buildings currently closed to the public, said more than 1,000 people arrived during the one afternoon it was open. (Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)

The lobby and lounge area were restored to their original splendor. (Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)

(John Narun/ blog.johnnarun.com)

One of the flight wings that led passengers to aircraft. (Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)

The departures board. (Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)

(John Narun/ blog.johnnarun.com)

It wasn’t part of Saarinen’s original design, but TWA installed a clock in the lobby area shortly after the terminal opened. (Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)

(John Narun/ blog.johnnarun.com)

(Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)

(Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)

(John Narun/ blog.johnnarun.com)

In December 2005, JetBlue Airways and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey began construction of a new terminal partially encircling the Saarinen terminal, also known as the head house. When renovations are complete in the Flight Center, it will serve as the entrance to the newer facility. (Nicolas Lemery Nantel/ salokin.com)