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Bengaluru Airport Terminal 2 isn’t just an ordinary transportation hub, it is an overall experience. With its sustainably driven innovative architecture, the Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2, is a breath of fresh air, committed to its passenger experience.
This technological and sustainable marvel, primarily designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), stands as an architectural testament and embraces the cultural identity of the Garden City, Bengaluru. The main factors carefully looked upon while developing this alchemy were :
- Taking into consideration the location of this terminal – reflecting a conceptual garden terminal
- Taking the architectural concept of biodiversity to a LEED certification level
- Taking into account the city’s reputation as the Silicon Valley of India – incorporating high-end technological advancements and innovation
- Taking charge to emphasize the heritage, art, and culture celebrated in the city.
Architectural & Structural Marvel
The simple intersected rectilinear plan enables flexibility, uniformity, efficiency, and modularity. Spread over four levels, the first phase of the airport has a built-up area of 255,000 sqm featuring large indoor gardens, water features, retail areas, etc. Greenery in Bengaluru airport is reflected through its cascading hanging gardens, towering green walls, calming indoor and outdoor gardens, and majorly its lush green three-storeyed, 90m forest belt.
Clad with rammed earth, this structure features oversized green bells and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling. Further, the natural terrazzo floor compliments the cross-layered engineered bamboo ceiling. The innovative use of skylights with bamboo lattices allows natural light to filter through, reducing reliance on artificial lighting. The custom furnishings clad in traditional woven rattan and local ivory-brown granite lend an earthy touch. The finishes of this terminal are locally sourced and rare in airports, which add a sense of warmth and comfort to this captivating public infrastructure.
The structural system of this terminal was designed to achieve sustainability through its structural foundation, strength and efficiency, and economy through local materials, simple form, and modularity. With one of the lightest airport terminal roof designs in the world, this features long-span steel moment frames supported by equally spaced columns. Each of the columns structurally supporting this garden terminal is a cluster of four bamboo-clad steel posts, carrying the texture of the lattices to the ground, enhancing the sense of light and colour palette within the terminal.
Larger column-free spaces at the baggage counters and arrivals improve the terminal’s functionality. The structural design throughout the entire terminal integrates skylights and hanging planters in bronze bells and veils, as well as landscaping and greenery at multiple levels, both inside and outside. The goal was to integrate nature with modern technologies and equipment to provide an astonishing passenger experience.
Filled with amenities in each space, complemented by retail shops and dining options, the architecture combines the travelling passenger experience with a nature enthusiast’s journey.
A Biodiverse haven
The eco-friendly features in Bengaluru Airport Terminal 2 are diverse concepts like water conservation, energy efficiency, living green architecture, and sustainable materials. With solar panels and natural light, they achieved about 24.9% energy savings. The water features on the south, recycle the stormwater runoff, creating a serene atmosphere. For water conservation – self-sufficient oasis, energy efficiency – skylights and renewable energy systems, cooling effect – vegetation regulates heat and mitigates the urban environment.
As a biodiversity, the terminal houses about 3600+ native plants, 1200+ tree species aged 600-800 years, 600,000 live plants, and 620 endemic plants. The mass installation and sourcing of plants started in 2020 with a separate 2-acre polyhouse within the premises to pre-grow the plants for two years. Sourced from all over India, thorough scientific knowledge along with plant features like size, growth rate, water consumption, etc., were studied to comply with the conditions in the site. The main factor that was to be well thought over was the maintenance system.
The initial selection of plants played a crucial role. With the well-designed irrigation systems, the installation and health status of the plants was regularly checked. Built within the green walls, the irrigation system was operated through automatic controlled sensors. Prior mock-ups were conducted before the installation of the waterproof structural panels that included drainage channels with each green wall as per requirement. The modules were installed within the panels and later shifted to the site for planting installation, with all the accessories and modules being fire-resistant. These green walls are lit up in the evening highlighting its beauty.
Sustainable Magnificence
The sustainable design of Bengaluru Airport Terminal 2 has set a new standard in the aviation industry. The striking features are:
- Sustainable and recyclable materials – engineered fire-retardant bamboo
- Waste and Water management – Waste segregation and recycling, irrigation, and rainwater harvesting
- Natural lighting and effective cooling – effective skylights and nature-oriented design with plants and water features to monitor and condition the environment
- Integrated biodiversity – green walls, hanging gardens, forest belt
Covering an area of 10,500 sqm with skylight and storing 413 million litres of water in rainwater ponds, the terminal achieves sustainable success. The terminal considers the entire life cycle of the building, from construction materials to ongoing operation, combining various elements to create a holistic approach.
Lush Green Passage
The passengers walk through a fresh and natural environment filled with light and greenery. The passenger experience at Bengaluru Airport Terminal 2 is relaxing and stress-free with the enhanced concept. The biophilia connects them to nature, the fresh air and natural light keep them refreshed, the natural cooling system regulates body temperature, etc., all together fostering a sense of comfort and environmental responsibility.
Cultural Canvas
Adorned with Naurasa – the nine human emotions in Indian aesthetic theory, the country’s art and culture are emphasized in this space. Inspired by Natyashastra, meaning the Science of Indian dance forms, the terminal features 60 distinctive artworks by 43 notable artists from various Indian states significant of cultural diversity and art forms. Strategically placed, it allows passengers to stop and appreciate the majesty.
Travel Smart with T2?s technological advancements
The terminal is equipped with advanced technology and cutting-edge tools to enhance operations. This allows for a seamless and easy experience featuring easy check-in, faster security check, and comfortable boarding, from entry into the airport to board the flight. The BLR Metaport in collaboration with Amazon Web Services & Polygon curated an impressive 3D virtual experience for T2 that passengers and the general public can visit through the website to experience a virtual tour and help in navigation. A high-speed baggage handling system of 34 self-bag drop systems, with a tilt-tray sorter and a capacity of 4,500 baggage items per hour is the brainchild of the BEUMER Group to optimize the passenger journey.
The development of this structure was challenging in many ways for the industry, with a tight timeline, logistics, material sourcing, design complexity, and integration of the new terminal with existing infrastructure. The decision to approach Autodesk made this construction a success. Autodesk BIM (Building Information Modelling) transformed the ideas into a functional and effective design and helped address potential hurdles the mega project could face. Autodesk?s BIM Collaborate Pro was used throughout the project phases until its delivery.
Pre-certified as a LEED Platinum Building by USGBC (US Green Building Council), Bengaluru International Airport Terminal 2 has been recognized as the largest terminal in the world, before starting operations. Terminal 2 also received IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) Platinum certification for its sustainable architecture and design. The terminal is notable for its environmental commitment and innovative design, acting as a high-standing model for the aviation industry.