Mumbai’s original seven islands provide the organising idea for a new mixed-use district beside the city’s international airport in India.
International architecture and design practice Benoy has designed Airport City Mumbai as seven districts, each with its own concept and material palette. The approximately five-million-sq-ft development is planned next to Terminal 2 at Mumbai International Airport, India.
Led by hospitality, the programme comprises three luxury hotels and Grade A offices, along with conference facilities, luxury retail, restaurants, a cinema, an aquarium, and a family entertainment centre.
Seven districts represent Mumbai’s original islands
The seven districts represent the islands from which Mumbai developed, while their individual designs refer to neighbourhoods, industries, and landmarks across the city.
A craft quarter reflects the textile mills and artisan traditions of Parel. The architecture and interiors of Mumbai’s heritage landmarks inform a separate luxury quarter.
Worli, a central Mumbai neighbourhood associated with Bollywood, the city’s Hindi-language film industry, provided the reference for the entertainment and leisure district. The central urban rainforest spine refers to Colaba Causeway, a prominent commercial street in south Mumbai.
Different concepts and material palettes distinguish the districts from one another. This arrangement also divides the commercial and leisure programme into smaller areas.
Passenger routes determined the spatial plan
Airport City Mumbai will connect with two metro lines. Metro passengers will pass through the development when travelling to and from the airport terminal.
Benoy modelled passenger and visitor movements before allocating space to individual uses. Its design and commercial strategy teams examined how different arrangements could affect circulation, footfall, sales, and rent.
This process determined the distribution of the hotels, offices, shops, restaurants, and entertainment facilities. The scheme is planned both as a destination and as an extension of the airport’s landside facilities.
Five biomes provide quieter spaces
Planting will continue through the interiors and outdoor areas, culminating in five principal spaces described as biomes. These interactive environments will provide visitors with places to pause away from the busier passenger routes.
The biomes will be distributed across the development alongside the central urban rainforest spine.
Images: Courtesy of Benoy
