Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, Lucknow

A Notion of Flight and Mans Mythic Fascination

The paper plane with its supple, folded wings the symbol for that elemental flight that catches our fancy as children becomes the starting point of the design. The building itself appears as a dynamic object preparing to take flight. Inside, the gently curving ceiling gives the feeling of being under the belly of a giant vessel.

ucknow-the city of Nawabs, which is historically known as Awadh region has been a multicultural city. With beautiful gardens, poetry and cuisine, Lucknow is also known as the Golden City of the East and The Constantinople of India. The unique amalgamation of culture, tradition and rapid economic growth has created for Lucknow an aura which refuses to fade away. The Lucknow architecture and design represent the craftsman style

and the variation of the arts and crafts in their architectural genre. Unlike other buildings that bear the influence of the place where they take root, the Airport terminal has an additional obligation to the sky. The notion of flight and mans mythic fascination with which they are reborn in every child, as he folds his paper plane to launch it into the sky are really worthy of imaginsation. The paper plane with its supple folded wings the symbol for that ele-

mental flight that catches our fancy as children becomes the starting point of for the design of Lucknow Airport. Large wing-like cantilevers on either side of the 200m long terminal building suggest lightness and swiftness. The building itself appears as a dynamic object preparing to take flight. Inside, the gently curving ceiling gives the feeling of being under the belly of a giant vessel. The terminal is designed as a

84

ARCHIDESIGN PERSPECTIVE August 2010

AIRPORTS OF INDIA
LUCKNOW AIRPORT

L%ckno', $he #ea$ of Na'abi C%l$%"e i# a %ni!%e combina$ion of "ich c%l$%"al $"adi$ion# and b"i#k economic g"o'$h. L%ckno' i# laced in be$'een 26.50o No"$h and 80.50o ea#$. L%ckno' i# loca$ed a$ an ele&a$ion of 123 me$e"# abo&e #ea le&el. The $o$al a"ea co&e"ed b( L%ckno' i# a"o%nd 3204 #!%a"e kilome$e"#. The ci$( i# famo%# fo" i$# *$eh)eeb+, oli$ene##, c%i#ine# and *Sham-e-A'adh+ Construction site of the Airport

Section -2

Arial View - Detailing Structure

Arial view

Arial view of Airside

Construction Work in Progress

86

ARCHIDESIGN PERSPECTIVE August 2010

AIRPORTS OF INDIA
LUCKNOW AIRPORT

Ground Floor Plan

Site Plan

First Floor Plan

one- and-a-half floor integrated terminal with clear movement paths for the travellers in an area of 20,000 sqm. There are two security holds on the ground floor for connectivity by bus and two on the first floor for approach to the aircraft through passenger boarding bridges. Three passenger claim belts of 60m lengths have been provided for the arriving passengers. The architects have kept the modern facilities of international standards as important aspects for the countrys new terminals and have incorporated them in the design. All other facilities have been visualized by the architect such as Business Centers, Conference Rooms, ATM and Shopping Center, Hospitality Desks, VIP Rooms, Child Care Rooms, Cafeterias, Internet, Corners Toilets. The airport is well-equipped for the physically disabled. There are no mobility thresholds at the airport and all floors are accessible by lift. All sliding doors also open and close automatically. The structure is formed by a set of variable span portals with fixed connections spanned across by variable space trusses that form the final form of the wings. The design of the section of the portal has been arrived at using
Final Plan of the Airport
ARCHIDESIGN PERSPECTIVE August 2010

87

Night View

a composite of rolled sections forming an overall dimension of 733mm by 375mm. The maximum span of the portals is roughly 43m. The maximum cantilever achieved by the space trusses is 24m. More than 40,000 sqm land allotted for the project . The ground floor consists of cafeteria of 3100 sq ft, retail areas of 3800 sq ft and business center in an area of 245 sq ft. whereas the first floor have CIP lounge in an area of 720 sq ft, snack bar in 440 sq ft area. The city of Lucknow, to which the building becomes a threshold piece, is reflected in the curb side with its large front indented in plan, like the city itself as it bends around the Gomti River and the Bada Imambara with its indented plinth lines. Two corner blocks, towards the north east and north west of the terminal building portray the load bearing lakhori brick buildings of the Residency in Lucknow. Frosted etchings on the glass faade of the building shall bear the intricate patterns of chikankari work that Lucknow is. SGA Team

3D view of the Waterside

Project Particulars
Commencement Date: December 2007 Completion Date: June 2010 Approx. Cost: Rs. 125 Crore Architect: S.Ghosh & Associates. Principal Designers : Sudipto Ghosh, Sumit Ghosh Associate Designers: Mitesh Kpadia, Rshmi Vkharia, Neem Rshnaiwala, Ketan Bhartia Structural Consultants: Descon United Pvt. Ltd.

88

ARCHIDESIGN PERSPECTIVE August 2010