Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore is a huge city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka and is the centre of India’s high-tech industry.
Additionally, the city is renowned for its green spaces, boasting several tree-lined roads and beautiful parks, which has given it the name Garden City.
To pay tribute to the city’s title, the Kempegowda International Airport became home to an incredible terminal, which, when completed, was recognised worldwide for its beauty.
Prior to the second terminal, the airport, which cost $460 million (approx. £360 million) to build, relied on one terminal to handle both domestic and international flights.
However, by January 2023, Terminal 2 designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and constructed by Larsen & Toubro, helped increase the capcity of the airport.
The incredible new build not only allowed the airport to handle more passengers but also gave it worldwide recognition. The year it opened, it also earned the title of one of the world’s most beautiful airports at UNESCO’s Prix Versailles and gained the World Special Prize for an Interior 2023, reports Times of India.
Visitors can see the terminal’s beauty before even entering. The drop-off area is protected by an extravagant roof that gives a welcoming sense, extending all the way to the check-in area, where you’ll find forests and plants positioned above.
The garden theme continues throughout the terminal, which features lagoons, waterfalls, and an enchanting outdoor garden called the Forest Belt that separates the gate longues from the main part of the building.
In a YouTube video by FRAME, Peter Lefkovits, design principal at SOM, said that “the expression of the architecture” is “very lightweight”, explaining the use of bamboo around the building.
He said: “The bamboo creates its own warmth in terms of its material expression but also the layering of the bamboo has this fantastic ability to filter daylight.”
Sustainability was a key focus when designing the stunning terminal, which placed Terminal 2 of the major airport as an example of modern architecture.
