T KEMPEGOWDA INTERNATIONAL hroughout the new Terminal 2 (T2) complex at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR), interior planting, exterior gardens and natural materials weave nature throughout travelers’ journeys. Additionally, a continuous band of outdoor, landscaped spaces links the terminal to the surrounding architecture. This 24,000m 2 outdoor forest belt has indigenous flora, multilevel meandering paths and two-story pavilions that are clad in bamboo and inspired by traditional Indian cane weaving. From these design seeds, the airport of Bengaluru’s Garden City grew a ‘terminal in a garden’. Creating this immersive, natural experience was no small feat. To realize its green vision, the airport approached architectural, urban planning and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Derek Moore, the company’s design principal, explains, “We worked to create a different garden experience at each step of passenger processing – some immersive, some passive, all inventive. From the approach on the landside all the way to the gate piers, the terminal appears to be surrounded by gardens. On the landside, passengers will soon also be able to ascend to tree houses for food and beverages, once these have been developed. These garden pavilions will be around 40m in height and provide a 360° view of the airport.” ProjeCt: T2 at BLR Airport Location: Bengaluru (Bangalore), India Cost: Rs5,000 crore (US$6.6bn) size: 255,000m 2 capacity: 35 mppA (upon completion of phase two) opening dates: phase one in 2023, phase two due in 2024 Passengers will soon be able to ascend to tree houses for food Derek Moore, SOM T2’s plants are all fed with natural light and water that is harvested on-site BLR approached SOM with its ‘terminal in a garden’ vision set from the start of the project ABOVE RIGHT 36 Passenger Terminal World All Images: Studio Recall JANUARY 2024 www.PassengerTerminalToday.com