Transit Architecture Time for a Drastic Change

Madras International Airport (Chennai)
3 towns in the country. The airports coming up in these places need
to be future proof architectrually and design wise so as to blend into
the destination’s future transport requirements. Airports are now
vital for any urban centre to take off and achieve growth. Airport
designs have to bear in mind proximity to highways, a safe yet
reasonable distance from city hubs and ground transport links and
stations. Aesthetics and functionality both play an important role
in airport design. Practical considerations around segregation of
departures and arrivals, visitors and baggage and the time spent in
various parts of the building are required.
Design strategies in maintaining comfortable temperatures and
maximising natural lighting are key. In fact, lighting and energy
saving is increasingly a crucial factor as airport designers and
architects jostle with each other at being the most environmentconscious.
Chennai airport claims it is the world’s first truly
sustainable green airport, with plenty of natural lighting and gardens
visible across the terminals including a vertical garden, as well as
restoration of the native landscape, passive energy conservation
strategies, material selection, onsite storm water detention, on
site waste water treatment and dispersal systems. Kochi airport
proclaims its the world’s only airport tht runs solely on solar power.
AESTHETICS, CONVENIENCE AND EFFICIENCY
Aesthetic challenges in airports include merging the local and
heritage elements with global and contemporary sensibilities.
The airport at Goa has vibrant interiors with wall hangings and
sculptures representing the local flavour with a bold, sleek structural
form providing a modern, iconic appeal. The Rocky Mountainsinspired
Denver International Airport became a landmark almost
twenty years ago as it successfully blended a modern design with the
“sense” of the place.
Across the world airports are including architectual and interior
design structural innovations that seemed almost fairy-tale like in
the not too distant past. Self-cleaning glass and carpets and selfrepairing
materials are being developed and used. The west terminal
at Los Angeles International Airport has large digital screens that
passengers can interact with using their mobile phones. Automated
interaction between the airport and the passengers will become the
norm in the near future.
RAILWAY STATION: INDIA’S LARGEST MASS MOVEMENT HUB
Here in India, on the ground level and specifically thinking of rail
transport, there is a lot of activity and ambition in the projects being
undertaken across the country to make transit stations’ design more
efficient.
State governments are also waking up to the necessity of better
transit hubs. Byappanahalli station in Bengaluru is set to receive
airport-like facilities like separate arrival and departure terminals,
conveyor belts and executive lounges. Along with many other
convenience and entertainment facilities the modern day traveller
expects from a world-class transit terminal. The station will be an
inter-model transit hub with both the Metro station and BMTC bus
stand very close by, and a consideration towards smoother last-mile
connectivity.
Architecture Update February 2018
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