The much-awaited structure stands at 30 feet high and spans 160 feet across two walls that are 80 feet wide in the newly opened Terminal 2 in Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, by globally recognized botanist Patrick Blanc.
Project Overview and Design Concept
The “Tiger Wings” project covers about 4,000 square feet and is planted with over 15,000 individual plants across 153 different species. Most of the species are endemic to India; others are from tropical parts of the world because there aren’t many indigenous plant species that are hardy enough for vertical gardening in India. Blanc, a botanist with the French National Centre for Scientific Research, spent time researching native species from nurseries in Bengaluru and the Western Ghats to source as many local plants as possible.
The innovative use of soilless felt layers by Blanc creates a condition of hydroponic environment in which plants can grow and thrive. Replacing earth, the felt layers should resemble a natural cliff face or rock wall where only very limited nutrients filter through the small crevices and cracks. This method introduces an intensively planted, sustainable ecosystem on a compact, vertical surface while creating a cooler, fresh environment that improves air quality within the terminal.
Sustainable Water-Efficient Design
Installation water efficiency takes precedence through its high-tech irrigation system that makes water deliveries at exact quantities directly to the plant’s roots within the felt layers. It avoids much loss of water bypassing conditions such as overwatering and drought stress.
As Murali Mohan Bebartta, Senior Manager of Irrigation at BIAL, explained in the installation tour, the irrigation system provided good support to the plants in this hydroponic arrangement, and the advanced technique saves water and supports the wall on the environmental side by avoiding constant maintenance.
Collaboration with BIAL and Nursery Support
KIAL’s greening activities are managed by Bangalore International Airport Limited, whose dedicated landscaping team worked with Blanc on the “Tiger Wings” work. BIAL has an in situ nursery that was established in 2008 and houses over 200 species, with an inventory of more than 100,000 plants. Most of the plants used in this verdant wall were actually sourced from the airport’s in-house nursery, Ashok Challapilli, Manager Landscaping for BIAL. This helps in easily replacing and developing plants whenever needed, keeping the installation alive with the passage of time.
Innovative materials and eco-friendly approach
The German origin of the felt used in the “Tiger Wings” garden forms a significant part of Blanc’s patented technique to build vertical gardens. The structure of the felt essentially allows for hydroponic growth and provides natural habitat conditions for cliff-growing plants. The soilless type of gardening cuts down the intense demands for maintenance, and the plants grow as it is naturally happening with a minimum number of nutrients.
Blanc has been working on vertical gardens in India since over 20 years, and the installation for this site is his biggest ever. Before this, he had designed one of Singapore’s greatest green walls in Changi Airport. This method allows different species of plantations to live together, creating a multi-layered and sustainable ecological system.
Vertical Gardening at Terminal 2 and Future Plans
By no means, however, is “Tiger Wings” the only landscaping effort BIAL undertakes. Indeed, across six acres, the Bangalore International Airport boasts a green canopy of almost 700 transplanted trees and an assortment of plant installations spread out across the terminal. Bell-shaped holders and three-tiered “beils,” tributes to Karnataka’s time-honored produce storage systems, make up some of these plant installations.
This is part of a greater trend toward greening infrastructure, and the collaboration with Blanc and BIAL’s landscaping team reflects the commitment of the airport to sustainability in the environment. At ₹80 lakh, the cost of the “Tiger Wings” installation is difficult to meet; however, its low-maintenance, sustainable design promises to have long-term environmental and economic benefits.
India’s First Eco-Friendly Vertical Garden at Scale
At the same time, collaboration with Blanc and BIAL is promising innovation for bringing the widespread revolution of green facades friendly to the environment within India. First, some troubles in getting a majority of local species appeared; however, the project was developed into combining native plants with well-adopted tropical species from Southeast Asia and South America. The installation is expected to inspire many green initiatives in urban and industrial spaces throughout India due to its unique design and sustainable technology.
The Future of Vertical Gardening in India
The “Tiger Wings” installation is probably one of the most refreshing reasons why vertical gardening should be considered a viable green infrastructure solution for saving water, conserving greenery, and promoting environmental sustainability. As India’s green infrastructure movement picks up the momentum, vertical gardens like this one can pose a fine example of combining eco-friendly technology with local landscaping practices. At the hands of an expert such as Blanc, a project supported by the commitment of BIAL to sustainability could make for some incredible, innovative green wall design to stir excitement within projects in cities all across India.
In this context of never-ending growth in cities and the ever-increasing emphasis on climate resilience, such projects like “Tiger Wings” become scalable solutions of greener and healthier public spaces.
Source: Adapted from Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) announcement and project details.