Gelephu International Airport by BIG seeks to catalyse Bhutan’s urban and economic rise

Located near the border of Bhutan and India across a scenic overlook with vantages to both river Paitha and the Himalayas, the Gelephu International Airport, designed by Danish architecture practice Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), is set to be a major development in the region with a massive 68,000 sq.m. footprint. The airport is an integral part of the expansive urban development project—the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC)—which aims to invite major national and foreign investments in the country's ailing public and private sectors, generating employment and ultimately contributing to the country’s economic and overall growth.

“This airport is essential for the success of the GMC as a business hub, and it is also a critical lifeline for Bhutan’s national security, especially for a landlocked country,” states the King of Bhutan, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, highlighting his aspirations for the development in the official release. Under his stewardship, the country—through the GMC masterplan—is set to prioritise further expansion in the energy sector and digital infrastructure, building a reliable and efficient connectivity network and provide a platform for the Bhutanese people to nurture their talents and develop their skills. In collaboration with aviation engineering firm NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants), the design of the masterplan is spearheaded by BIG, engineering and technical experts Arup, along with architecture and urban design consultation firm Cistri.

The contemporary architecture is characterised by a visually dominant modular diagrid structure of glulam timber, inspired by the natural landscape of the country, its rich subtropical forests, mountains and rivers. “For the Gelephu International Airport, we have tried to embody the nature and culture of the country and the Mindfulness City,” reveals architect Bjarke Ingels, founder & creative director of BIG, in an official release. Describing the airport design as an “unusual embrace of traditional craft and colour," the Danish architect underlines his fascination for the culture, people and natural beauty of Bhutan. “The forests that cover the highlands are allowed to flow from the arrival plaza through the airport all the way to the tarmac,” he adds, explaining the visual relationship between the interior spaces and the site's largely natural context.

Local forest flora adorns the corridors of the building and earmarks the 'Forest Spine', an expansive courtyard at the centre of the development separating the airport into domestic and international terminals on the west and the east, respectively. Tropical trees also line the rest of the concourse, underlining the airport's chief functions between immigration, security and luggage handling. The arrival plaza is planned as a series of four zones, each dedicated to specific plant specimens native to Gelephu forests. The gathering space right outside features a pavement made of locally excavated stone, in-built seating spaces and green canopies to provide shade and a sense of enclosure. Prioritising user experience and operational efficiency, the spaces in the airport offer visual cues to ensure streamlined navigation and circulation. Passive design strategies are incorporated into the building to respond to the subtropical climate of Southern Bhutan, inspired by traditional Bhutanese architecture. While the wooden structure contributes to regulating the humidity within the building by absorbing moisture from the air, the ventilated roofing system and courtyard architecture further facilitate natural ventilation.

The timber construction utilises locally and sustainably sourced materials, featuring structurally independent frames that allow ease of expansion and dismantling. The facade is influenced by kachen, an intricately designed wooden column in Bhutanese architecture, featuring three distinct dragons, carved and painted, representing the past, present and future of the country. The details on the timber architecture showcase traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship, featuring Shing-Zo (carpentry), Par-Zo (carving), Lha-Zo (painting) and Tshar-Zo (weaving) techniques. With the intent of countering the stressful and tiring experience of travelling, the architects imbue the interiors with calm and relaxing spaces with ample natural light, vegetation and expansive volumes. Introducing functions such as indoor and outdoor lounges for gong baths, meditation and yoga, the public architecture further allows visitors to unwind and reorient themselves, along with providing a transitional environment that familiarises them with the values and culture of Bhutan.

The transportation design will be showcased as an installation at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, featuring a diamond-shaped timber component that depicts the form of the airport’s facade design. The sculpture will be carved in real-time by a Bhutanese artist with the help of a machine, celebrating the country’s history and culture through traditional wood carving while using technology to advance the craft.

The airport will become the country’s first ever in-land mobility hub, encouraging the use of public transport through trams and buses, connecting Gelephu’s new developments to other centres in the country. Establishing itself as a ‘global gateway into GMC’, it embraces the cultural heritage of the country while deploying a contemporary design approach to achieve a distinct identity. Set to open in 2029, the airport is equipped to handle 123 daily flights and is estimated to welcome an annual number of 1.3 million passengers by 2040 and 5.5 million passengers by 2065.

Project Details

Name: Gelephu International Airport
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
Area: 68,000 sq.m.