Modular timber design to shape new Bhutan airport by BIG

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has unveiled plans for Bhutan’s second international airport, designed as part of the proposed 1,000-square-kilometre Mindfulness City near the India–Bhutan border. (images: Renders of Gelephu International Airport by Bjarke Ingels Group.)

The 68,000-square-metre Gelephu International Airport will sit at the foot of the Himalayas, near the town of Gelephu. It is expected to process 1.3 million passengers annually by 2040, increasing to 5.5 million by 2065. The design is modular, with a diagrid structure fabricated from sustainably sourced glulam timber, allowing for future dismantling and expansion as demand increases.

The terminal building features a stylised triangular roofline intended to reflect the surrounding mountain range. The structure is built independently of the internal layout, providing flexibility for phased development. Local craft traditions are central to the project, with the timber frame incorporating Bhutanese motifs and carvings contributed by regional artisans. These include Shing-Zo (carpentry), Par-Zo (carving), Lha-Zo (painting) and Tshar-Zo (weaving), extending across interior and exterior surfaces.

A key architectural element is the painted timber façade, referencing the Bhutanese “Kachen”—a load-bearing wooden pillar found in monasteries, often carved with dragons and symbolic patterns. The arrival zone features a triple-height entrance leading into four distinct areas, each themed around native plant life from the region’s forests.

The building is split by a central landscaped courtyard known as the “Forest Spine,” which separates domestic flight functions on the west side from international services on the east. The courtyard will also include elevated walkways, planted zones and shaded rest areas.

Internal spaces are planned with both passenger flow and cultural activities in mind. Indoor and outdoor lounges will include facilities for meditation, gong baths and yoga. Upper-level departure gates will be accompanied by food and retail areas, offering views across the airport apron and the mountain range beyond.

Design considerations include adaptation to southern Bhutan’s subtropical conditions, using passive ventilation, extended eaves, ventilated roofing, and rooftop solar panels. The airport is scheduled to open in 2029.

A partial mock-up of the airport’s façade—half manufactured and half hand-carved—will feature in an exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025. The airport forms part of the broader Mindfulness City masterplan, designed by BIG in collaboration with Arup and Cistri.

The city itself is shaped around the paths of 35 rivers, forming 11 elongated neighbourhoods connected by bridges. Planned infrastructure includes rail connections, a university and a hydroelectric power facility.

See: Bjarke Ingels Group