Global architecture practice BIG has envisioned Bhutan's new international airport with a diagrid structure adorned with painted carvings, blending Bhutan’s traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation.

Dubbed Gelephu International Airport, the 68,000-square-metre terminal will be strategically built near the Bhutan-Indian border and the Paitha River, surrounded by Bhutan’s lush subtropical forests, mountains, and rivers. 

Set to open in 2029, once complete, it will be Bhutan’s second international airport. 

Concept Aerial

The design will also be displayed at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, Ancient Future in May and exhibited until September.

With its modular diagrid structure composed of glulam timber and painted carvings, Gelephu International Airport is intended for both mindful travel and potential expansion.

The airport is a key component of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project created by BIG, Arup, and Cistri and was developed in partnership with the aviation engineering firm NACO.

Airport Departure Lounge White Ceiling

The airport can accommodate 123 aircraft per day and is expected to handle 1.3 million passengers annually by 2040, rising to 5.5 million by 2065.

BIG stated that a timber diamond piece that reflects the airport's façade will form part of an installation at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025. The display, which is half machine-made and half created by a Bhutanese artist, celebrates the country's history of wood carving while examining how technology may help to preserve and develop the art form.

Apron View

"An airport is the first and last impression you get of a place you visit. For the Gelephu International Airport, we have tried to embody the nature and culture of the country and the Mindfulness City," said Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, BIG.

"The forests that cover the highlands are allowed to flow from the arrival plaza through the airport all the way to the tarmac. Tropical trees provide shade for travelers, and the forest courtyard lines the main functions of immigration, security, and luggage," he continued.  

Arrival Corridor White Ceiling

"The airport architecture is composed of modular mass timber frames providing flexibility and expandability, resembling a stylized mountain range at a distance. Upon closer inspection, all the mass timber members are carved and colored according to traditional craft, adorned with three types of dragons representing the past, present, and future of Bhutan. The result is traditional yet avant-garde, forward-reaching and rooted."

"For me personally, this unusual embrace of traditional craft and color is a true testament to how affected I have been by my encounter with Bhutan - the country, its culture, and its people," Ingels added.

Arrival Corridor Render White Ceiling

The airport's diagrid construction, which is surrounded by the Himalayas, is made of ethically and locally sourced wood and is embellished with traditional Bhutanese wood carvings created by regional artists. 

The Kachen, a wooden pillar valued for its elaborate design and structural significance that embodies Bhutanese architectural heritage and spiritual connotation, serves as the inspiration for the painted façade. 

Arrival Hall View White Ceiling

The airport's structurally independent timber frameworks, which are intended to support GMC's anticipated growth, enable easy extension and disassembly. In keeping with Bhutan's goal of becoming a carbon-negative country, the airport's roof is equipped with photovoltaic panels.

The arrival plaza, which blends harmoniously with the surrounding natural topography, is divided into four zones, each of which is devoted to a particular plant found in Gelephu's forests. A gathering area has seating areas and paving composed of natural stone from the area, and it is protected from the weather by a canopy and lots of plants.

Check In White Ceiling

The airport and its internal courtyard are connected to Bhutan's wildlife corridors. The courtyard, which separates the terminal into two sections—domestic flights on the west side and international flights on the east—is aptly termed the Forest Spine. 

With its peaceful green areas, treetop walkway, and native wildlife, the Forest Spine, which is visually accessible from anywhere in the airport, gives visitors a sense of being in nature even while they are there.

Checkin Staff Facilities White Ceiling

Bhutanese culture is celebrated in every part of the Gelephu International Airport, which features local skills like as Tshar-Zo (traditional weaving techniques), Par-Zo (carving), Lha-Zo (painting), and Shing-Zo (carpentry). The façade and interior are covered in traditional Bhutanese sculptures. 

With a majestic triple-height lobby, large floor-to-ceiling windows, and skylights, the airport is flooded with natural light and was designed to bring awareness to the frequently stressful experience of traveling. In keeping with Bhutan's ideals of happiness and mental health, indoor and outdoor lounges offer peaceful areas for yoga, gong baths, and meditation for visitors to unwind and revitalize.

Commercial view White Ceiling

The layout of Gelephu International Airport is influenced by both operational effectiveness and passenger experience. A seamless trip from arrival to gate is ensured by intuitive wayfinding through well-considered circulation patterns and clear visual cues. 

Large views of the apron and the breathtaking Himalayan scenery may be seen from the gates, retail spaces, and food and beverage places located on the top level.

The airport uses passive, climate-responsive principles seen in traditional Bhutanese architecture to adapt to the subtropical climate of Southern Bhutan. 

Emigration view White Ceiling

While ventilated roofs and courtyards provide natural airflow, the building's wooden construction absorbs moisture from the air to assist control inside humidity. 

Extended eaves outside offer protection from intense rain and shade. 

With conveniently accessible trackless trams and buses that connect to the rest of the nation and Gelephu's rebuilt town center, the airport will also serve as Bhutan's first in-land mobility hub, encouraging the usage of public transportation.

Entrance Night White Ceiling

"For the Gelephu International Airport, we wanted to create an experience that feels deeply Bhutanese - calm, welcoming, and connected to nature," said Frederik Lyng, Partner, BIG. 

"The airport will provide an outstanding passenger experience, where generous daylit spaces, elements of the Bhutanese landscape, and the intricate carvings of the Bhutanese craftsmen go hand in hand to gently guide the passenger through the terminal." 

"The design not only honors Bhutan’s rich culture but also sets a new standard for mindful, adaptable architecture that will grow with the country’s future while being rooted in its past," Lyng added.

Entrance Plaza White Ceiling

The aim of the Gelephu International Airport, which is rooted in Bhutanese culture, is to become a global entry point into GMC that respects the past while looking to the future, fostering a friendly environment that embodies GMC's values throughout the entire voyage.

Forest Spine by BIG

Green Mindfulness Lounge White Ceiling

Mindfullness Relaxation Lounge White Ceiling

Staff Facilities apron view White Ceiling

Staff Logistics Entrance by BIG

Treetops Bridge by BIG

Diagram, Forest Terminal

Diagram, Forest Terminal 3

Diagram, Forest Terminal 4

Diagram Section 1

Diagram Section 2

BIG recently completed its new headquarters around a single column and a large staircase on the Copenhagen harbor in Denmark. In addition, the firm unveiled design to transform a former supermarket building into the new Museum for Paper Art in the North Jutland region of Denmark. Moreover, the firm unveiled design for a group of holiday villas on Japan’s Sagi Island called NOT A HOTEL Setouchi. 

Project facts

Name: Gelephu International Airport

Size: 731,946 sq ft / 68,000 m2

Location: Gelephu, The Kingdom of Bhutan

Client: The Kingdom of Bhutan

Collaborators: Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), Changi Airport Planners and Engineers, Influit, WT Partnership

Project team

Partner in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Frederik Lyng, Giulia Frittoli

Project Manager: Per Bo Madsen

Design Lead: Sorcha Burke, Dace Gurecka

Team: Andrea Megan Hektor, Chiara Gargiulo, Dalma Ujvari, Jan Magasanik, Mantas Povilaika, Nanna Gyldholm Møller, Nathan Angelo Osena, Nikol Maraj, Will Chuanrui Yu, Dace Gurecka, Xinyu Zhao, Matthew Goodwill.

All renderings & drawings are courtesy of BIG. 

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