The project encompasses a new Integrated terminal building of Guwahati International Airport, an upgrade to the existing infrastructure. A global tender for the project was floated by Airports Authority of India, and DFI in collaboration with Aecom succesfully bid for the same. AAI envisioned the terminal to be an establishment reflecting the aspirations of the place and mirroring the local context. The desired outcome was envisioned to be a terminal that reinforces the Guwahati appeal, a creation that combined contemporary elements with an international appeal to produce a contextually relevant output.
Ideation
At Design Forum International, designs are aimed at creating memorable and awe-inspiring experiences for the users. The Guwahati International airport is conceptualized in a similar vein: the intent is to trigger moments of discovery and togetherness, enhancing user engagement. DFI also believes that it is important to be contextually reverent. The design, therefore, is infused with the flavours of Assam.
The design solution emerges out of the intent to soothe frayed nerves and tired bodies, and to create an environment that evokes memories, stirs wonder, and rekindles pride and a sense of belonging. Designing an airport presents an intriguing challenge; aviation is one of the most complicated industries in the world and runs on incredibly smooth logistics. One has to contend with enormous functional demands, and almost military-level precision.
The architects did not want to restrain themselves to just fulfilling the requirements; they yearned to imbibe the design with an identity – a lingering, almost-haunting memory of the time spent within. It is from this pull and push of forces that a thought emerged: there was a need to create spaces that would involve and stimulate, and not just deliver and facilitate.
Steeling Structure
Steel was the prime choice due to its numerous advantages over other construction materials. Steel provides a much higher tensile, and, compressive strength as against other materials. In case of huge buildings like airports, where huge spans of uninterrupted spaces are a must, steel is the only viable material of choice in the Indian context.
The Indian aviation industry spearheaded by Airports Authority of India is currently registering a 15-20 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate. Contributing substantially to the annual growth, Guwahati International Airport registers an annual growth of 36 per cent, which is double of the national growth. The addition of a new international standard terminal will only add to this growth by supporting the overflow and paving way further for user expansion. The new airport serves as the second most important entry and exit point to the north eastern India after Kolkata. On completion, it will be able to exponentially increase its operational load, thereby handling the north east segment all by itself. In the longer run, Guwahati International Airport will be instrumental in connecting the north east with international destinations across the globe, especially Asian nations and the south west sub continental countries.
Anand Sharma, Principal, Design Forum International
Uniqueness
Conceived as the iconic Icarus: The epitome of the human urge to fly. The form of the structure takes inspiration from Icarus – the mythological figure who dared to fly. The majestic centrepiece is symbolic and looms over the departure concourse, its arms outstretched as it reaches out to the skies. The floating form doubles up as the canopy for the drop-off zone.
Origami: An art, an expression. Few things straddle the realms of art, physics, and sculpture, as origami does. The childhood memories of flying paper planes, zooming towards the heavens, are reminiscent of individual craftsmanship. While designing, Origami served as a guide to the architects – a companion and a tool as they delved into the evolution of form. Before they knew it, however, the idea dominated the design completely: it finds expression in the terminal roof, the flooring patterns, the column cladding, the theme walls, and even the signage design.
Craft Village: Immersive and engaging. India is a land of diversity: every nook and corner of the land is packed with mysteries and local delights. The airport recreates this experience for the travellers, extending it beyond books and handicraft emporiums.
This enhances engagement, making travellers a part of life at the airport. Spaces have been allocated for the artisans to sit and produce right at the airport, encouraging interaction with visitors. Engaging the craft, the craftsman, and the visitor, in one experience altogether, the crafts village augments the shopping and retail experience for the traveller.
Indoor forest: Wish you were here. Coming out of the plane, the travel weary eyes look for some solace, a relief from the mass of humanity that engulfed them on the plane. It is here that one views an oasis of rich river-basin rainforest from the corner of the eye, and out comes the yearning to be a part of it.
Lo and behold! Wish granted – The visitor is positioned within a 90-feet high indoor rainforest, which needs to be navigated before being reunited with the luggage. The rainforest doesn’t let one just hurriedly pass through; passages that zig-zag through this space bring forth vistas and wonders at every corner.
Craft Walls: Is it an airport or a gallery? The craft walls have been conceived as a canvas for current and future trends: they display innovative products and artefacts. The Namaskar Atrium is a massive double-heighted space that creates an experience for the inbound visitor, with its walls adorned with the art and craft of Assam. The Baggage Claim hall wall is an exercise in modularity with origami aluminium panels that derive inspiration from the hilly terrain of the North-eastern states.
Tea-gardens: On an airport, where else. The tea-gardens are a mark of reverence to the context and serve as an inspiration for landscape design. They are positioned at the front yard along with a water cascade. The landscape weaves a story of its own and clings to the departing and arriving passengers as they walk through it before boarding their pick-up vehicles. The drive up to the departure level is reminiscent of the first climb up a mountain road, after the tiring and relentless plains. The car zooms up as the plains give way to rolling earth-berm greens.
Materiality: An architect’s best friend. To enrich materiality, glass was selected as the palette of choice for the façade – GFRC wraps around the façade’s tricky and smooth wide expanses, facilitating day-light penetration and visual uniformity.
The use of terracotta tiles references the architecture of fort-like citadels and imparts stability. Terrazzo flooring has been employed in the interiors for its versatility and playfulness, whilst the use of granite ensures steadiness. Aluminium origami panels endow relief and sintered stone is used for wall and column cladding.
Geometrics
Few things straddle the realms of art, physics, and sculpture, as Origami does. The childhood memories of flying paper planes, zooming towards the heavens, are reminiscent of individual craftsmanship. While designing, Origami served as a guide to the architects – a companion and a tool as they delved into the evolution of form. Before they knew it, however, the idea dominated the design completely: it finds expression in the terminal roof, the flooring patterns, the column cladding, the theme walls, and even the signage design.
Designing Tools and Experience gained
BIM (Building Information Modelling) software, namely Autodesk Revit et.al.
At the altar of the land of the mighty Brahmaputra and maa kamakhya devi, the new Integrated terminal building at Guwahati International Airport is an ode to the ancient yet reinvigorated spirit of Assam, the Seven Sisters, and our own Incredible India. The construction of the project started in Jan 2018 and is slated to finish by Jan 2021.