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For the first time in the history of this Blog I’ve set up an interim bureau inside an invasive species.
The parametric structure pictured below is part of the outstanding 080 International Lounge at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru Terminal 2.
The beautiful framework is made from Lantana Camara, a tropical American shrub introduced to India by the British as a decorative plant during the period of colonial rule.
However, its original ornamental purpose proved just as invasive as the Brits.
Its original purpose was rapidly superseded by the plant flourishing across entire swathes of the country. It now occupies more than 40% of India’s tiger range, threatening the already imperilled animal species. Not a good way to earn your stripes.
Lantana Camara is one of the world’s ten most-invasive plants, competing with native varieties for space and resources, and drastically altering the nutrient cycle in the soil.
Efforts to eliminate Lantana Camara have proved hugely difficult due to it needing to be uprooted, rather than merely cut above-ground. But here at Terminal 2, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has put this scourge of the country to good use by creating this brilliantly innovative sculpture/pod.
The structure symbolises BIAL’s commitment to sustainability and regeneration, a principle that underpins everything the airport company does. T2 is built around four pillars: Terminal in a Garden; Sustainability; Technology; Art & Culture. All are beautifully on show as you will see in my reports over coming weeks.
I have learned much about that commitment over the past few days. I had the pleasure of co-moderating ElevateBLR, a workshop held by BIAL dedicated to taking the Karnataka gateway to a new level.
I also spent time touring Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (dual domestic and international) and speaking to the airport leadership, including BIAL Managing Director & CEO Hari Marar; CCO Kenneth Guldbjerg; Vice President – Commercial Pravat Paikray and their extraordinarily committed and passionate colleagues.
Then there was the simply wonderful Payal Khanna, Founder and Principal Designer of Aura Dezyne, a to the manor born storyteller who gets the very essence of what airports can be in terms of culture and soul perhaps better than anyone I have ever met (look out for her story in my forthcoming series of reports).
And last night I attended the Pinnacle Awards, a nicely named BIAL event that simultaneously recognises both excellence and ambition across the entire airport stakeholder and partnership base.
What an enjoyable education it has been. Already I wrote that the arrivals duty-free store is perhaps the world’s best (having mulled it over and discussed with many people via email and LinkedIn, I would now remove the qualifier ‘perhaps’). That turned out to the high-quality tip of a very large, and beautifully sculptured, iceberg.
So beautifully sculptured in fact that Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru T2 was honoured at UNESCO’s 2023 Prix Versailles as one of the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Airports’ and awarded the coveted ‘World Special Prize for an Interior 2023’.
The Prix Versailles focuses on ‘intelligent sustainability’ as a cultural driver, acknowledging innovation, creativity, reflection of local heritage, ecological efficiency and values of social interaction. I can tell you – and this will be borne out in my forthcoming coverage – T2 ticks all those boxes with a triumphant flourish.
I’ll bring you a series of reports in the weeks, months and – yes – years ahead as we track this extraordinary Terminal in a Garden’s progress. In the meantime, here are some some of my favourite images from an unforgettable visit. ✈
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