Navi Mumbai International Airport: ZHA Embodies Futuristic India
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), the Navi Mumbai International Airport which is expected to be operational from March 2025, moulds India’s futuristic aspirations with innovative, sustainable architecture. By Nikitha Sunil Vallikad
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), with a total planned capacity of 60 million passengers per annum, represents a bold statement of India’s forward-looking aspirations. Moving beyond traditional designs that celebrate India’s cultural heritage, NMIA embraces a futuristic vision, blending cutting-edge architecture with sustainable practices. Located in the rapidly developing Navi Mumbai district, this airport promises to be a significant hub, impacting the local community and the broader Indian economy.
ZHA Design Inspiration: A Fusion of Nature, Elegance, and Indian Identity
Responding to the enquiry on design brief, ZHA, Poject Director, Cristiano Ceccato says, “The client team had a very specific vision for the Navi Mumbai airport: whereas the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji airport Terminal 2 is a manifestation of India’s culture, traditions and art, the new Navi Mumbai should instead look at the future aspirations of India, its emergence on the world’s stage, full of confidence and purpose, yet all the while embodying a sense of identity that is unmistakably Indian.”
ZHA draws inspiration from the national flower, the lotus, symbolising the country’s emergence on the global stage with confidence and purpose. This is evident in the terminal’s unique lotus-like columns and the petal-shaped landside canopy. The lotus metaphor extends beyond mere aesthetics, embodying India’s identity and aspirations.
ZHA’s collaboration with renowned Indian fashion designer Sandeep Khosla adds a layer of sophistication to the design. The intricate filigree texture of materials and the thoughtful integration of natural elements, both inside and outside the building, root the project in the surrounding nature. These design elements create a cohesive spatial experience throughout the terminal, representing a prosperous vision for India.
Sustainability at the Core: Balancing Innovation with Environmental Responsibility
Sustainability is a key focus in NMIA’s design, addressing the inherent challenges airports face due to their environmental impact. ZHA has incorporated a range of architectural and operational enhancements aimed at minimising the airport’s ecological footprint. For instance, the terminal’s layout is designed to reduce aircraft taxi times, thereby decreasing fuel consumption. This efficiency will be further enhanced with the introduction of a second runway in future phases.
The airport’s design also responds innovatively to Mumbai’s extreme climatic conditions. The roof of the terminal, designed as a massive sunshade, protects the building during the intense heat of the dry season while acting as a barrier against the monsoon rains. The sloped roof, interlaced with angled drainage channels, efficiently directs water to oversized gutters, preventing any accumulation and ensuring smooth drainage during the monsoon.
A notable sustainable feature is the extensive rainwater harvesting system. The airport captures the large volumes of rainwater during the monsoon into tanks build under the airport, storing it as greywater for use during the dry season. This system not only reduces the airport’s reliance on municipal water supplies but also reflects a sustainable approach to resource management.
Overcoming Construction Challenges with Innovation
The construction of NMIA presented several significant challenges, which ZHA addressed with innovation and resilience.
“The construction of the Navi Mumbai airport presented several challenges: The determining factor was where to commence Phase 1 of the project, due to the geotechnical nature of the ground conditions. One of the most daunting tasks was the removal of a basalt mountain to accommodate the flight path, ensuring stability by building on the solid rock beneath. The basalt detritus was ingeniously repurposed for land reclamation on the site’s northern side, exemplifying a sustainable approach to material reuse,” explains Ceccato.
The terminal building’s long-span roof posed another challenge, which was solved using a diagrid of truss frame.
“This design maintained the visual integrity of the interior column grid while ensuring the necessary slope for effective drainage,” he adds.
The complex petal-like forms of the terminal’s façade were executed as space frames, and offers a lightweight construction solution while preserving the desired architectural aesthetics.
Technological Advancements: Pushing the Boundaries of Construction Feasibility
ZHA’s approach to NMIA also involved pioneering construction techniques, particularly in the landside façade canopy. The highly complex space frame systems used in this canopy achieve a level of curvature within a shell-action structure that surpasses previous airport projects by ZHA.
Building on lessons from the Beijing Daxing International Airport, the design team, in collaboration with engineers at Arup, pushed the boundaries of technical feasibility. The result is a low-tonnage, cost-effective solution that showcases the main design feature of the project.
Impact on Community and Economy: A Catalyst for Growth
According to Majidi, the construction of the Navi Mumbai airport is an integral part of the development of Navi Mumbai as a whole.
“This new urban pole is a modern counterpoint to the city of Mumbai itself, and provides new jobs, residences, and commercial activities, many of which are centred around the new airport as an economic enabler,” he says.
While contemporary airports feature so-called ‘airport cities’ in the immediate proximity of the airport, the wider Navi Mumbai airport development is catalyst for the wider development of Navi Mumbai, in the form of extended ‘airport urbanism’ which not only sees the airport as a good neighbour to its residents, but actually provides them with livelihood as well.
Reflecting ZHA Architectural Philosophy: A Signature Approach Tailored to India
While ZHA is known for its dynamic and flowing forms, also known as the signature style of ZHA, the design of NMIA is not about imposing a signature style says Ceccato.
“ZHA does not have a ‘signature style’,” confirms Ceccato, “Rather, the firm’s holistic approach to design problems in response to clients’ needs often results in dynamic, flowing forms which reflect the complexity of the present age. This is especially true at Navi Mumbai, where the requirements for modern air travel are combined with the client’s need for a design that reflects contemporary India, while capturing the essence of the national flower, the lotus, as a symbol of India’s identity and self-confidence: Together, these give life to the fluid forms that are the hallmark of the new airport’s design.”
The design defines twelve feature columns inspired by a layering of Lotus petals. The columns’ unique silhouette has carefully crafted openings that allow for indirect light to wash the spaces underneath. They mark the passenger’s progression, giving a sense of intuitive directionality and orientation. Skylights integrate into the ceiling design, defining via a series of large modular components – as ripples of water that integrates as flowing lines that distributes light through the entire Terminal.
A Vision for India’s Future
The Navi Mumbai International Airport stands as a testament to India’s aspirations, merging innovative design with sustainability. The collaboration between ZHA and local experts has resulted in a landmark that not only redefines airport architecture but also serves as a catalyst for regional development. As NMIA prepares to welcome passengers, it marks a significant step towards a visionary future for Indian aviation, promising to shape the country’s infrastructural narrative for years to come.
All Images Courtesy ZHA
