Could airports – and their landscapes – become destinations in their own right? That question drove design of Bengaluru, India’s Kempegowda International Airport, the subject our special edition FRAME Views Biophilic Transit.

SOM’s design of Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal 2 utilizes local elements and biophilia to highlight Bengaluru’s rich history and culture, providing travellers with a distinct experience. Facilities like retail and entertainment spaces are augmented by a forested pickup area and civic square covered by a canopy, which the gates are separate from. The terminal’s oasislike ‘forest belt’ incorporates indigenous flora and twostory pavilions influenced by Indian cane weavings – biophilic design that’s paired with materials like brick, bamboo and glass. Plantings, skylights and bambooclad steel members give the interior, which incorporates sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting and the use of renewable energy, an immersive quality. Pointing out the hectic nature of travel and airport spaces, Peter Lefkovits, design principal at SOM, says, ‘We felt combining this natural environment would help create a much more serene calming environment – almost the antiairport experience.’

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