Gateway to Manipuri Culture
Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal, India Sthapati Associates ( India) in collaboration with GMB Architects ( Australia)
Master Plan: The new development being a greenfield development but in junction with the ongoing operations at the Imphal Airport, the master planning for the new integrated terminal building and amp; ATC tower is done in a way to minimize the disruption to the existing services being operated out of the present airport and offer to the people of Imphal, a brand new infrastructure with operations starting from the opposite side of the runway which would be inhabited by the new development in the future. The focus of the master planning has been to provide seamless connectivity from the city to the terminal building and ancillary facilities and proper segregation of functions wherever needed in terms of functionality and also in terms of approach by respective users.
The connecting road leads from the state highway onto the entrance of the new development into a central boulevard. Nonaeronautical revenue generation activities have been planned next to the main approach road to give them optimum branding opportunity along with high visibility to develop into an aerocity model as seen in newly developed metro cities. The central boulevard then leads further into the development flanked by surface car parks for nearly 800 capacity on both the sides, duly covered by solar roofs to also ensure environmental sustainability. From this central boulevard, effort has been made to provide a grand entrance to the terminal building by placing it centrally to the large open landscaped space and the national flag of India as the first major point of landmark within the airport complex. The thorough way is a single way road which provides peripheral access to the terminal building and covered walkways connect the surface car parks with the terminal building.
Ancillary buildings such as the service building is strategically placed in amalgamation
with the landscape design and is hidden from the approach road by placing its back towards the approach and providing green walls on the rear elevation of the service building to provide passengers, an ambient experience while approaching the terminal building. The service building has a segregated approach leading from one of the secondary roundabouts which also then leads to the ATC- tower- cum- technical- block.
The ATC tower is positioned on the left side of the proposed terminal building which in future would become ‘ central’ to the future terminal which is proposed further on the left of the existing terminal, thus forming a base for the entire master planning which has been done to ensure a long term flexible growth for the Imphal airport.
Terminal Building: The architecture of the
terminal building is inspired by the local Manipuri elements such as the Loktak Lake near Imphal, the floating clouds which are predominant over the Imphal air space, the special leaf patterns found in the flora of Manipur.
The floating clouds over the Imphal airspace have inspired the large central terminal roof which is relatively flat for ease of operations but provides a grand look to the new terminal building. The mega roof also has circular skylights in the check- in hall which are inspired by the ‘ phumdis’ of the Loktak Lake– a natural feature in the lake. The columns in the meet and greet area are inspired by the bamboo
plantations in the regions and are sleek and slender to give a floating cloud effect to the mega roof when seen from a distance.
The approach to the terminal building is by 3- 2- 2 lanes with dedicated lanes for the VIP, drop off and pick up lanes are different lengths of the kerbside. Efforts have been made to provide a total covered pick up and drop off to allow the passengers to be protected from the extreme elements of weather such as sun and rain and ensure a comfortable entrance to the building. The drop off canopy is a mixture of solid cladding and glass to allow for natural light to be present in the covered areas as well.
The terminal building envisaged for the proposed development is a 1.5 level building with check- in areas, passenger security, baggage reclaim halls– all positioned on the ground level or level 1, and domestic security hold areas spread out on level 1 and level 2.
The passengers are led into the check- in hall which is a grand volume of approximately 11m height and they are welcomed into the hall with the grand roof which is a mix of circular skylights and circular ceiling lights ( inspired by the Loktak Lake), leading them to three check- in aisles which total up to 36 check in counters. There are two dedicated aisles for domestic flight, counting to 24 check- in counters and a separate aisle for the international check- in counters, which are 12
in numbers. The flooring of this check- in hall also has circular patterns which gel with the ceiling lights and circular skylights, truly inspired by the Loktak Lake.
The walls are lined with acoustical panels and a mix of jaali cut in locally inspired patterns from Manipur which are backlit and travellers relate to the Manipur region as soon as they pass by this area. Appropriate areas for artworks have been identified which will be sourced from local artisans, thus promoting skill development and employment in the local Imphal region.
With an aim to provide a greater passenger experience and earmark more valuable spaces for the passengers, the bulk services such as baggage handling system have been shifted to the extreme ends of the terminal building– to the left and to the right, and the central areas are earmarked for passenger experience.
Leading from the check- in hall, the passengers proceed to the central security check area, which has again been consolidated to increase efficiency, further leading to the domestic security hold area. International passengers too pass through the immigration counters to proceed to the security check area and there on into the security hold area.
Once into the security hold area, the domestic boarding gates are bifurcated into level 1 and level 2, with the remote boarding happening instantly from level 1 immediately after security check and passengers proceeding to level 2 for boarding via aerobridges. The passengers proceeding to level 2 travel through dedicated set of escalators and lights with a central skylight element above which allows for natural light even in this interior space. International passengers dedicatedly travel to level 2 for boarding via link bridges and there on again need to come to level 1 if there’s a remote boarding happening for international departures.
As the passengers arrive to level 2 passing through the atrium with skylight, they are led into departure lounges– three dedicated contact bridges for domestic and one decimated for international departure. Emphasis has been laid on complying with the retail strategy to ensure passengers pass through retail area on the way to the departure lounge. Retail outlets are lined on one end of the corridor in mix with pop- up retail kiosks in the middle to allow for passengers to engage into retail and food and amp; beverage, also ensuring orderly financial modelling of the proposed terminal building.
Departure lounge areas are inspired by the local Manipuri culture by means of providing aesthetically pleasing ceilings in the form of fishing nets all over the departure hall areas. Fishing is a major activity in the Manipur region and hence this design intervention plays a major role in coming together of local culture with the modern contemporary design for the proposed airport. The design goes an extra mile by featuring customised lighting solutions– the boat- shaped hanging lights over seating areas, an imitation of boats going into the waters for fishing with fishing nets.
Arrival Sequence: The arriving passengers coming out of the aircraft are led into the building with aerobridges leading into the
facade ramps which guide the passengers to the arrival corridor from level 2 to level 1 and there on into the baggage reclaim hall passing through the necessary retail area through the walkways. Coming into the baggage reclaim hall, the passengers are welcomed by mega roof with circular lights and skylights– an inspiration from the Loktak Lake. Flooring patterns are kept as an inspiration from the local Manipur culture with boat- shaped illustrations on the floor in the passenger areas. Emphasis has been made to streamline the passenger flow as much as possible and reduce the passenger waiting time inside the terminal airport.
Landscape Design: The landscape master plan has been developed in response to the environmental context, existing site features and requirements for efficient ongoing maintenance and sustainability. The objectives of the landscape design seek to complement and enhance the architectural design theme.
The design objectives include: Provide safe environs; Enable and amp– encourage people to access food court plaza and amp, parking facilities; Build a sense of identity through a distinct aesthetics; Generally incorporate key principles of good urban and landscape design; Create spaces with dominant landscape to enable ambient usage of spaces.
The overall landscape design of the external area is based on the idea of a ‘ lily’ which is one of the most dominant and beautiful flowers from the region of Manipur. The grand boulevard from the entrance to the airport
complex is abutted by flat greens with low mounds and line of locally grown seasonal and amp; evergreen flowers. This is intentional to give the terminal building a grand look with the Indian flag occupying a central pole position just after the surface parking to frame the proposed building with the national flag.
The landscape master plan has been designed with two major typologies as: Active landscape zone– maximum public access; and passive landscape zone– visual landscape access.
Leaf- shaped patterns are used in multiple numbers on the ground level to create pathways and areas for plantation along with extensive use of outdoor furniture for ease of convenience to the passengers as well as visitors to the airport complex. Locally sourced stone is used extensively in the landscaped areas for patterned pathways which combine with boatshaped elements acting as a feature inspired by the extensive fishing activity in the region.
Approach Road: The main entry for the PTB is by a 235m- long approach road. This has been designed as a striking avenue road as well as safe, pedestrian- friendly walkways and amp; plazas. Median planting will have combination of palm trees and street lights. Road side margins have shade giving and amp; seasonal flowering trees along the walkways. Lower storey planting consists of hardy shrubs for moderate water requirement and amp; hard landscape elements at intervals to allow easy maintenance. Solar lights are proposed on the car park roof.
Roundabouts leading to the terminal building are planted with low height shrubs to allow for clear visibility of the terminal building and this is ensured from both the departure road and arrival road subsequently.