Fusing Tradition With The Modern

Project: New Domestic Terminal (T3) Building at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Quaintly located along the east coast of India by the beautiful Bay of Bengal, the state of Odisha is perhaps best known for its great Rath Yatra, or chariot parade of Lord Jagannath and his consort. This annual celebration in Puri attracts tens of thousands from not just across India, but around the world, and gives meaning to each and every aspect of a journey here, and hence, to life. Through this project, we intend to bring that experiential feel for the visitors, along with showcasing the ancient and modern elements of Bhubaneswar, so as to give complete meaning to every journey—whether from or to this magnificent capital city.

The new airport is envisioned such as to create a fusion of traditional and modern architecture, adopted from the iconic Jagannath Rath and Konark wheel, in the spirit of the movement. The aim is to represent nature as a piece of art and architecture that inspires the visitor’s mind so that one develops a sense of respect towards natural resources while creating a landmark infrastructure that is also sustainable. The corbelled roofing profile for the form of the building, as well as the stone bands with motifs, is replicated on the front facade, creating a distinct style in aviation architecture. Even the division of the vertical massing, on the bullnose of the roof of the airport, is derived from the topmost part of the temple.

The drop-off bay is flanked by huge columns designed to reflect the traditional motifs and sculptures, while the wheels of the chariot are symbolic of the sundial, both inspired from traditional temple architecture. Using locally available soapstone for the sundial and timber for the band with motifs, not only helps retain its original character but also makes it cost-effective. The laser-cut jaali with bronze golden finish sets a good example of fusing contemporary materials with traditional design elements.