Press Release
Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Goes to Terminal 2 Guwahati International Airport by Nuru Karim
Nuru Karim of Nudes recognized for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ Terminal 2 Guwahati International Airport by Nuru Karim of Nudes, designed for Adani Airport Holdings Limited, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The award was conferred within the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Silver A' Design Award Means
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
About Terminal 2 Guwahati International Airport
Terminal 2 is an international airport terminal in Guwahati, Assam, India, planned to handle around thirteen million passengers each year. The architecture follows a Bamboo Orchid theme, with columns and suspended petals formed by bamboo poles coated with a flame retardant finish. Passive strategies such as solar optimization, high performance insulation and shading devices improve energy efficiency. Double height skylit interiors and an arrival forest bring daylight and greenery indoors. Self check in, fast baggage drop and electronic gates support a smooth passenger flow.
About Nuru Karim
Nuru Karim is the Founder and Principal of NUDES, an award-winning design and research studio recognized for its innovative work at the intersection of art, architecture, and computational design. With over 25 years of professional experience, he has consistently leveraged advanced digital tools to engage with critical social, cultural, and environmental challenges through architecture. He earned his Master’s in Architecture and Urbanism from the Architectural Association (AA), London, in 2006. His academic foundation was shaped by education and travel across London, Mumbai—where he graduated as a Gold Medallist from KRVIA—and Montreal at McGill University.
About Nudes
Nudes delivers architectural solutions that blend exceptional aesthetics with functionality, prioritizing sustainability and community impact. Our designs integrate seamlessly with the natural environment, optimize resources, and create social and economi
Award Record
Nuru Karim of Nudes is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award
The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Typical entries include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. The awarded architectural projects are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/175835
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/175835
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!175835
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/372410
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.nudesarchitecture.com
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Terminal 2 Guwahati International Airport
- Function
- Guwahati International Airport
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Black, Dark Slate Gray, Light Blue, Dark Olive Green and Alice Blue
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Adani Airport Holdings Limited
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Nuru Karim
- Country
- India
- Brand
- Nudes
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #175835
Credits
- Team
- Mahesh Khanapurkar, Vishesh Khetawat, Vatsal Kapadia, Tanvi Savla, Nandan Tike, Pradyna Patil, Atul Hanchnale, Nirmal Kumar, Apurva Thakur, Prerna Kanabar and Keerthana V
- Image Credits
- NUDES
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Guwahati city is a key hub for regional national and international aviation. Handling around thirteen million passengers annually the airport ensures seamless flow. Its architecture draws from Assam’s natural beauty using the Bamboo Orchids theme. Blending tradition with innovation it adopts eco friendly strategies to reduce carbon footprint and sets a benchmark for sustainable aviation infrastructure.
- Inspiration
- The design concept of the Guwahati International Airport draws profound inspiration from the state of Assam. Bamboo, integral to daily life symbolises strength, sustainability, and resilience. The design combines these natural elements to create an architectural language that is organic, lightweight, and sustainable. Bamboo, integral to the daily life of North East India, symbolises strength, sustainability, and resilience.
- Research
- Research for Guwahati International Airport design involved site and climate analysis, stakeholder consultations, and benchmarking global and regional airports. Passenger profiling and flow simulations informed spatial planning. Cultural integration drew on Assamese motifs, bamboo craft, and orchids. Sustainability strategies included passive cooling, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy. Iterative design prototyping ensured compliance, safety, adaptability, and a strong regional identity.
- Challenge
- Challenges included designing for Assam’s humid subtropical climate with high rainfall requiring robust drainage waterproofing and mold resistant materials. Seasonal weather variations affected construction sequencing and material curing. Compressed timelines demanded efficient planning, modular construction and phased execution to meet deadlines without compromising safety quality or sustainability.
- Realization and Technology
- Guwahati International Airport integrates climatic responsiveness, contextual design and cultural identity. Passive strategies of solar optimization, high performance insulation and shading devices enhance energy efficiency. Double height skylit interiors and the Arrival Forest ensure daylighting and biophilic experience. Inspired by Assamese villages, programmatic elements like pond, amphitheatre, food and retail zones promote social interaction and cultural engagement.
- Operation and Interaction
- Passengers begin their journey with easy self check in fast baggage drop and e gates that save time. After security they can unwind in spaces for shopping, dining and relaxation before boarding. Arrivals are welcomed by forest inspired spaces creating a calm transition as they collect bags and move out with ease. Behind the scenes every detail is managed with care ensuring a seamless and stress free experience.
- Project Duration and Location
- The airport terminal is located in the city of Guwahati, state capital of Assam, India. The project started full swing construction in 2023 and is schedule for completion by 2025.
- Specifications
- The Bamboo Orchid : a. Orchid column stem: 100 mm diameter Bamboo wood poles forming the stem of Bamboo orchid with Aluminium cladding infill panels around the structural column in circular manner. b. Orchid petals: 100 mm diameter Bamboo wood poles of varying heights suspended from main structure to form Orchid petals. Designated poles shall have sprinkler pipes and light fixtures integrated within the Bamboo poles. c. Baffle Ceiling: 80mm diameter Bamboo pipes at 200 mm centre to centre suspended from main structure within the Orchid petals. d. Finish: All the Bamboo wood poles shall be coated with Flame Retardant solvent.
- Keywords
- Gateway, Bamboo, Orchids, Biophilic, Orchid Inspired, Sustainable, Iconic, Adaptive, Harvested Not Built
