Kempegowda International Airport’s ‘terminal in a garden’ is an ode to Bengaluru’s green spaces

The recently-launched Terminal 2 at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru is themed on ‘terminal in a garden’. As you enter, travellers walk through an engineered bamboo structure adorned with hanging plants and vibrant green spaces accentuated by several roof cavities. There are spaces connected by bridges and pathways that comprise water features, stepped gardens, and large rock formations. There is also a 90-metre-wide landscaped stretch i:e forest belt

Go to the airport, but wait in a garden. At the recently-launched Terminal 2 at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru takes a cue from the Garden City’s many parks and green spaces: global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), international landscape architects Grant Associates, and designers Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla have created a ‘terminal in a garden’. 

On entry, travellers walk through an engineered bamboo structure adorned with hanging plants and vibrant green spaces accentuated by several roof cavities. There are spaces connected by bridges and pathways that comprise water features, step gardens, and large rock formations. There is also a 90-metre-wide landscaped stretch ie a forest belt that serves as a distinction between the main block (check-in and security) and the terminal’s gates.

The masterplan

Peter Lefkovits,design principal at SOM — the firm behind designing Terminal 2 at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai — explains that the theme was chosen to “radically reimagine the travel experience by connecting passengers to Nature at each step of their journey, while at the same time conveying a sense of place that is unique to Bengaluru”.

Together, their abundant landscaping, material selection, and lighting remind passengers of the experience of walking through a garden. “With a focus on rich, sensory experiences rooted in Nature, we created a calming oasis within the bustle of an international airport,” says Peter, adding that they started design on the project in 2013, and construction began in 2018.

Sandeep Khosla of designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, who worked with SOM on the Mumbai airport’s Terminal 2, says, “This is a completely custom, one-off project. We usually design private homes and residences, and this is our second public space project. It is absolutely different in look and feel from T2 Mumbai and has a distinct Bengaluru flavour.”

The duo believes the terminal is a showcase of the inherently rich cultural heritage of Karnataka. “Throughout the terminal, we also identified opportunities to integrate art and installations, showcasing regional artists in meaningful ways. From the material selections and details, the beautiful forms of the hanging planters, and the bespoke hand crafted lanterns, it reflects the region’s beauty,” adds Abu.