Danish architect Bjarke Ingels Group has designed Bhutan’s second international airport as part of Gelephu Mindfulness City near the Bhutan-Indian border and the Himalayas.
The 68,000-sq-m Gelephu International Airport will handle 123 flights a day. It will accommodate 1.3 million passengers a year by 2040, increasing to 5.5 million by 2065.
Its timber frame is structurally independent and can be dismantled for future expansions. From a distance, its stylised triangular profile resembles a mountain range.
The airport features a modular diagrid structure made of sustainably sourced glulam timber, adorned with traditional Bhutanese carvings by local artists.
The painted façade is inspired by the Bhutanese “Kachen,” a large, wooden load-bearing pillar with intricate designs, often of dragons, common in monasteries.
Traditional Bhutanese carvings extend from exterior to interior, with craftsmanship on display including Shing-Zo (carpentry), Par-Zo (carving), Lha-Zo (painting) and Tshar-Zo (weaving).
The arrival plaza has a large triple-height entrance and four zones, each dedicated to plants found in Gelephu’s forests.
A courtyard called the “Forest Spine” divides the terminal into two sections, domestic flights on the west side and international flights to the east. The Forest Spine will contain green spaces and a treetop walkway.
There are indoor and outdoor lounges, with spaces dedicated to yoga, gong baths and meditation.
Gates are located on the upper level alongside food and retail areas, with views of the apron and the Himalayas.
The structure’s design was adapted to Southern Bhutan’s subtropical climate, with passive features, as well as ventilated roofs, extended eaves, and rooftop solar panels.
The airport is set to open in 2029.
A diamond timber exhibit representing the airport’s façade, made half by machine and half by a Bhutanese artist, will be displayed as part of an installation at Venice Architecture Biennale 2025.
BIG has previously worked with engineer Arup and consultant Cistri for the designs for the 1,000-sq-km Mindfulness City on the India–Bhutan border, which will contain railways, a university and a hydroelectric dam.
Inhabitants will live in 11 ribbon-shaped neighbourhoods shaped by the flow of the 35 rivers that run through the site, creating a land of bridges.
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