UNESCO’s 2023 Prix Versailles Awards

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Context: Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Terminal 2, Bengaluru wins the UNESCO’s 2023 Prix Versailles award.

Kempegowda International Airport Terminal 2 Wins UNESCO’s 2023 Prix Versailles

T2 of KIA is awarded with the world’s special prize for interiors at UNESCO’s Prix Versailles award.
The World Judges Panel for the Prix Versailles 2023 is chaired by Elie Saab, a famous fashion designer.

About Prix Versailles

The Prix Versailles awards were first conceptualized in 2015 and are presented by UNESCO annually to honour the best achievements in the field of architecture and designs worldwide.
Purpose: It seeks to promote architectural production as a cultural driver for intelligent sustainable development and focuses on acknowledging innovation and creativity along with a reflection of local heritage in the designs to promote ecological efficiency and values of social interaction.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

It is a specialized agency of the United Nations
Aim: Is to promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.
Membership: 194 member states including India
Headquarters: In Paris, France.

Also Read: UNESCO’s World Heritage List, here.

Terminal 2 or T2 of KIA

About: Recently inaugurated in 2022, T2 is also known as Terminal in a Garden and is now recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful airport terminals.
Area: built over an area of 255,661 square meters
Foundational pillars: The airport’s conceptualization is visioned on 4 pillars of,
- Technological leadership: Embraced in engineered bamboo, the terminal’s interiors offer a blend of functionality with aesthetic appeal.
- Terminal in a garden: The terminal’s niche is that it features a spacious indoor garden with rammed-earth walls and waterfalls, as well as hanging planted bells appearing as a garden.
- Environmental and ecological stewardship: T2 has the distinction of becoming the world’s largest terminal pre-certified with a Platinum LEED rating by the US Green Building Council before the formal commencement of the airport and also garnered the Platinum certification under the IGBC Green New Building rating system.
- Celebration of Karnataka’s rich heritage and culture: As a part of BIAL’s Art Programme T2 possesses interiors that have an insightfully curated art and décor elements which showcase Karnataka’s culture and heritage.