A major new airport set against a backdrop of forests and mountains is set to boost travel into the South Asian nation of Bhutan. Gelephu International Airport is expected to open in 2029 and will become the landlocked country’s second international airport.
The 68,000-square-metre terminal will welcome 5.5 million annual passengers by 2065. It is being designed by BIG in a collaboration with aviation engineering firm NACO.
BIG founder Bjarke Ingels said designers chose a diagrid structure among a natural landscape for the airport to resemble “a stylized mountain range at a distance”. Local craftsmen have been involved to create intricate wood carvings depicting dragons which will make up the exterior of the building.
The arrival plaza will be divided into four zones, with each to be filled with native plants, seating areas and a canopy for shelter. There will also be greenery inside the airport, including a courtyard named the Forest Spine which will divide the terminal into two sections – one on the west dedicated to domestic flights and one on the east for international flights. The Forest Spine will be lined with skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows and hopes to give travellers a walkable area with natural light.
The airport will also feature mindfulness spaces dedicated to yoga, gong baths and meditation. Meanwhile, the “mobility hub” will connect Gelephu to the rest of Bhutan via trams and buses.
People across the world are set to get their first sight of Gelephu International Airport later this year when the project is showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
BIG partner Frederik Lyng said:”For the Gelephu International Airport, we wanted to create an experience that feels deeply Bhutanese – calm, welcoming, and connected to nature. The airport will provide an outstanding passenger experience, where generous daylit spaces, elements of the Bhutanese landscape, and the intricate carvings of the Bhutanese craftsmen go hand in hand to gently guide the passenger through the termi
He added: “The airport architecture is composed of modular mass timber frames providing flexibility and expandability, resembling a stylized mountain range at a distance. For me personally, this unusual embrace of traditional craft and color is a true testament to how affected I have been by my encounter with Bhutan – the country, its culture, and its people.”