The Maharaja Lounge of Air India at India’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi introduces a renewed premium hospitality space in Terminal 3. Designed by HBA Singapore, the lounge provides a more contemporary travel experience while retaining subtle references to its heritage.
The design approaches the idea of the Maharaja (meaning ‘King’) in a contemporary register, avoiding literal motifs in favour of material and spatial interpretation. Warm timber, soft gold accents, and muted neutral tones define the interior palette, shaping an environment that feels composed against the pace of the terminal beyond.
Arrival is marked by a sculpted entry sequence that gradually transitions travellers from the airport concourse into a more controlled, atmospheric interior. This threshold sets the tone for a space designed around pause and recalibration rather than transit alone.
The lounge is organised into distinct but connected zones that reflect different rhythms of travel. A series of quiet seating areas are positioned for rest and decompression, with generous spacing and acoustic softness supporting longer stays.
In the dining zone, the atmosphere shifts toward a restaurant setting, where Indian and international cuisine is served across clearly defined seating and service areas.
At the heart of the plan, the social spaces take on a more expressive character. The bar and lounge areas are conceived as contemporary hospitality settings, including references such as the Aviator’s Bar and the Crystal Bar, where atmosphere shifts through material tone and lighting rather than overt thematic design. These spaces introduce a more social register within the otherwise restrained composition.
For working travellers, discreet business zones are integrated into the layout, with enclosed pods and focused seating arrangements that allow for short, uninterrupted work. Connectivity and functionality are embedded into the design without visual dominance.
Across the lounge, references to Indian craft are present but restrained. Textile-inspired patterns, carved screens, and tactile surfaces are integrated into the architecture, forming a subtle cultural layer within a contemporary interior.
Lighting plays a unifying role throughout. Layered and understated, it shifts the perception of material surfaces across the day, softening transitions between zones and reinforcing a consistent spatial atmosphere from arrival through to departure.
Movement through the lounge remains intuitive, with clear spatial sequencing and gradual transitions between functions. The design avoids strict separation, using changes in light and spatial density to guide movement.
The Maharaja Lounge reflects HBA Singapore’s approach, defined by clear planning, material restraint, and spatial sequencing.
Photos: Courtesy of Air India / HBA
