UNESCO’s 2023 Prix Versailles Awards

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.

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.

News source: The Hindu