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The new international terminal building for the Guwahati airport designed by Design Forum International along with a team of 15 design and consulting firms curates a series of moments and experiences for the travellers... At the altar of the land of the mighty Brahmaputra and Maa Kamakhya Devi, the new Integrated Terminal Building at Guwahati International Airport goes beyond the required complex functional demands of the aviation industry and creates an experience full of marvel and moments of fascination for every traveller. A sense of awe and wonder takes over, as the form of the mythical Icarus – the mythological figure that dared to fly, looms over the main entrance covering the departure drop off. Signifying the epitome of the human urge to fly, the mythological creature gives the terminal building a dominant identity. The Icarus along with the facade, column cladding, and roof are conceived using origami as a tool and guide, bringing about childhood memories of flying paper planes, zooming towards the heavens. Even the signage, flooring patterns draw inspiration from and use origami in their conception, all reminiscent of art, physics and sculpture characteristic of origami. Reverent to context, as one pulls in or out of the airport, tea gardens serve inspiration for landscape design and weave a story, positioned at the front yard along with a water cascade, allowing visitors to experience the north-eastern tea estates right at the airport. Furthermore, instilling a sense of pride and belonging, the Namaskar atrium, a massive double-heighted space and the baggage claim are adorned by walls highlighting the crafts of Assam, while further exploring origami forms with modular aluminium panels. The retail arena deftly doubles as a craft village, bringing forth the diverse and numerous crafts of India, and encouraging interaction and exchange amongst the people, craftsmen and artisans. The craft village augments the user’s retail and shopping experience. The arrival terminal also offers solace and relief to the weary travellers: as they alight from the confines of the plane and make their way to the baggage claim hall, an oasis of rich river basin rainforest captures attention and offers rejuvenation along the way. Outdoor and indoor gardens bring forth vistas and wonders at every corner, while providing required green open spaces. Added to the experiential design, the glass facade achieves openness and lightness. GFRC wraps around the façade’s tricky and wide expanses flawlessly. Zinc cladding and terracotta tiles add character and granite ensures stability. Terrazzo flooring and aluminium origami panels with sintered stone for wall and column cladding add a dimension of playfulness. The design guided by 4-star GRIHA rating parameters takes a sustainable approach even as the built form consciously interweaves with the outdoors, while photovoltaic panels over the parking generate 500 KW of solar energy. The construction that has commenced on Jan.29, 2018 is scheduled for completion by Jan.29, 2021.check out the visuals on indiaartndesign.com
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institutional architecture, sustainable design, airport architecture, transportation architecture, building design, landscape design,
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