Resonance of the Antiquity

 Shortlisted: Finalist, Fentress Global Challenge: Airports of the Future,

Team Members: Anirudva Bhowmik, Md. Galib Nur Anan, Shunila Binte Ahsan

India is one of the ancient civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. On the contrary, air pollution and rapid increases in temperature have emerged as major climatic challenges in India. By 2100, this could cause the death of 1.5 million people in India, with a temperature increase of 4.4 degrees. Still, India is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. Average aviation traffic is growing at 20%, far exceeding the global average of 7.3%, with low-cost airlines making up 60% of that traffic.

In this scenario, we proceeded towards designing a new airport terminal, integrating three aspects: resembling the heritage, sustainable environment, and aviation traffic.

The 22nd century is an era of velocity. Conventional airplanes will require the fastest possible boarding opportunities. In parallel, instant takeoff passenger jets will become a reality.

In the future of speed, erratic movement of aircraft will hinder efficiency and cause collisions. So, we propose movement along three axes. Along these axes, three towers with vertical segmentation are located to facilitate safe docking. In respect to the preferable airflow of the north-south axis, the corresponding tower is larger. This airport terminal requires enormous horizontal and vertical space in the city. We attempted to take advantage of the magnitude of the space. The mechanically designed facade can purify the air and provide smog-free air in the environment. In the formation of the terminal, we considered a central void space with water beneath to cool the hot air.

In spatial organization, we took inspiration from the ‘WHEEL,’ the symbol of India’s independence. It also represents Asoka’s principle of life and the non-cooperative movement of Mahatma Gandhi. The circulation of spaces is designed according to the geometry of a wheel. Later improvisation of functional and recreational spaces modified the formation. As an expansion of e-commerce, the space requirement for physical duty-free shopping may reduce. So, we took advantage of the reduced space to formulate a holographic museum. This holographic visualization will express India’s distinct features of loom, blue pottery, handcraft, and the story of architectural and historical masterpieces. This will recall the heritage and history and cherish the pride of the products.

In form generation, we took inspiration from Indian architectural wonders. The structure of the form is a structural interpretation of the Indian squinch method. The vertical segmentation of the tower and the geometry of the plan reflect the remarkable JALI work of Indian architecture.

Inside the airport, one can feel the magnitude of tranquil and surreal space with a variation of scale and proportion. The vertical and horizontal layering of functional spaces with natural elements creates a clear understanding of the space flow. A heavy structure with an airy space beneath provides a complimentary relationship of the exterior and interior environment.