12,000 sqft
Included landscaping, construction & interiors
Experiential
Design & Build including, MEP, Interiors and Biophilia
Ongoing
Due to COVID, restrictions in movement has put the project on hold
The new airport, specifically the VVIP terminal, promises to advance technology, comfort and security for the passenger. GMR Group looked to ARCOP, an architectural and master planning practice led by a team of expert consultants to plan the architecture and master planning for this iconic project.
As a part of an initiative to improve the passenger experience, Arcop recently showcased Biophilia - the healing science of creating connections between people and nature - at its facility in New Delhi. Besides its overall focus on architecture, Arcop collaborated with us to enhance the experience which would overrule all current standards and to set a higher standard of VIP terminal to VVIP standards.
The central theme behind the VVIP lounge we proposed was to bring the idea of rediscovery of the forgotten aesthetics and softness in a time where people have got used to impersonalisation of everything around them. Biophilia is not a technology, nor a product. It is a mindset in designing spaces. Biophilia advocates that when we are in natural environments, our mind and body are at ease. It wants to reacquaint us with our most basic human needs and making us feel comfortable around the environment.
Our approach was to rediscover the standards of decors by designing with deeper meaning to every installation and blend them to be part of landscaping.
Painstakingly planned and built on an open-terrain with multiple restrictions, the aim of the terminal was to combine architecture, landscaping and art with a commitment to exceptional quality.
The VVIP lounge area at Rajiv Gandhi airport has kept the frequency of usage in mind. The private terminal is meant for welcoming heads of states and great entrepreneurs who visit the country infrequently. It was important that they’re given a unique experience while still preserving the character of Indian hospitality and efficiency. We have ushered biophilia into every aspect, from fabrics, to statues, to terminals. We define biophilia as a profound relationship with nature, characterized by an understanding that all living systems are interconnected.
In a country which is home to Vedic tradition and one of the oldest living philosophical tradition, we have inherently connected nature with the culture. The following project captures this relationship through its theme, which uses the principle of biophilia by harmonizing bio-diversity into the airport terminal design.