Guwahati, Dec 28 : For passengers arriving at Guwahati’s new airport terminal, the first impression is no longer steel, glass or digital screens. Instead, the eye is drawn upward to sweeping bamboo vaults—warm, organic and firmly rooted in the cultural landscape of the Northeast.
Installed inside the New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, the Bamboo Village Vaults are among India’s largest natural bamboo installations within an international airport. Built under some of the country’s strictest safety and durability norms, the project marks a significant shift in how sustainability is being approached in public infrastructure.
Designed and executed by Guwahati-based bamboo enterprise CanBoo, the installation shows that natural bamboo—when scientifically treated and carefully engineered—can perform on par with conventional materials used in high-footfall spaces.
“Bamboo is often seen as a material of necessity or tradition,” said Kamesh Salam, Founder and Director of CanBoo. “This project shows it can meet aviation-grade standards for safety, durability and aesthetics. It is not a material of the past, but of the future.”
Unlike most large infrastructure projects that rely on engineered or imported bamboo, nearly 85 percent of the installation uses treated natural bamboo. Materials were sourced locally—Bhuluka and Jati (Tulda) bamboo from Assam, and Apatani bamboo from Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh—supporting regional supply chains while keeping the carbon footprint low.
The vaults are not decorative elements. Conceived as a narrative space, they draw inspiration from the form and rhythm of an Assamese village, shaping a visitor’s first encounter with the Northeast. Several arriving passengers were seen pausing beneath the ceiling to take photographs before heading towards baggage claim—an uncommon sight in an airport environment.
The broader terminal design, commissioned by the Adani Group, balances advanced engineering with regional identity. While departure areas lean towards composite and engineered materials, the arrival hall is intentionally rooted in local architecture.
Behind the flowing bamboo forms lies a robust structural system. Scientifically treated bamboo elements are mounted on concealed steel sub-frames, meeting fire safety, load and maintenance requirements. Defined upkeep protocols are expected to give the installation a service life of over 15 years, comparable to conventional airport interiors.
Execution was complex. Natural bamboo requires careful treatment, seasoning and handling. Despite these challenges, most of the work was completed in record time, with CanBoo acting as designer, executor and integrator—coordinating architects, engineers, contractors and artisans to maintain the original design intent.
Artisans and workers from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur were involved in the project, representing multiple tribal communities. For Salam, this human dimension is central.
“Sustainable development cannot be separated from livelihoods,” he said. “This work brings together decades of learning, global collaboration and the craftsmanship of communities across the Northeast.”
Urban planners and sustainability practitioners say that as hill states such as Meghalaya grapple with expanding infrastructure without undermining fragile ecosystems, the Guwahati airport installation offers a practical case study rather than a theoretical promise. It suggests that climate-sensitive design need not rely on imported solutions—and that local materials, backed by science and engineering, can redefine public infrastructure.
Also Read: After Modi, Amit Shah to visit Assam, inaugurate key projects ahead of Assembly Polls
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