The mega-columns were also a response to the site’s complexity. Because of the tight constraints and the building’s proximity to the existing terminal, the columns were designed to serve as hoist mechanisms so the entire roof could be constructed without tower cranes. The structural design prioritized material efficiency and modular construction, which not only optimized costs, but also facilitated an accelerated construction schedule.

Embodying a city’s identity

Just as the terminal celebrates a new global, high-tech identity for Mumbai, the structure is imbued with responses to the local setting, history, and culture. Gracious curbside drop-off zones designed for large parties of accompanying well-wishers accommodate traditional Indian arrival and departure customs. Regional patterns and textures are subtly integrated into the terminal’s architecture at all scales. From the articulated coffered treatment on the headhouse columns and roof surfaces to the intricate jali window screens that filter dappled light into the concourses, Terminal 2 demonstrates the potential for a modern airport to view tradition anew.

The project also makes a significant positive contribution to the surrounding districts. By integrating into the existing transportation network and by furthering connectivity through the simultaneous development of a new road network to service the airport, the terminal helps knit together the historic heart of Mumbai to the south with the city’s burgeoning peripheries to the east and north.