A sustainable architecture firm – STUDIOARO, installs a magnificent structure for the first-ever airport at Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh. This structure consolidated the position of the firm in the eco-friendly architecture space.
Gateway to the airport, this structure is built over a 2500 sq. ft. area in the shape of the Great Hornbill, the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh.
It is built entirely of bamboo and cane, covering a height of 23 feet and a width of 82 feet. The structure was completed within five months and took almost 15 bamboo artisans to shape.
Regarding the inspiration for the structure, the Founder & Principal Architect of STUDIOARO – Aroty Panyang says, “This structure draws inspiration from the Great Hornbill, the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh. We studied the aspects of this charismatic bird – the features, the form, and the flight. Some of the most striking characteristics were the beak and how majestic it looked with the size of the body and the bird’s great wingspan.”
The entry gate to the new Donyi Polo airport, built with bamboo, a material linked with deep tradition and relationship with the region, and the Great Hornbill, the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh, gives a sense of pride to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. It will undoubtedly inspire current and future generations about this great state’s cultures and traditions.
It is worth noting that the Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi, 15 km away from Itanagar, will include the state capital in the aviation map, thereby highlighting the significance of air access with Arunachal Pradesh.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) developed the airport at an estimated cost of Rs 645 crores under the Capital Connectivity Scheme of the Union Government.
The proposed airport will accommodate A-321 aircraft in the future. Its terminal structure, which spans 4100 square meters, will accommodate 200 people during peak hours. The plan was developed as an energy-efficient structure with a rainwater harvesting system, and a long-term landscape plan is a part of the sustainable infrastructure development plan.
Besides, the plan also includes the surrounding landscapes with an organic roof structure that generates an instant connection with the spectator, moving away from severe geometry of straight lines and angles. The structure’s interior will give passengers the sense of serenity of Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the ATC Tower, Technical Block, Fire Station, Medical Center, and other auxiliary works are part of the development project.
