Leh Airport - India

Location Jammu and Kashmir, India

GMB along with our partners Sthapati in Delhi are currently undertaking the design for a new airport for Leh. The existing airport is one of the highest commercial airports in the world at 3,256 m above mean sea level. The city is famous for its rich cultural heritage and is popularly known as the land of monks and monasteries. It is a harsh environment known as a cold desert with long winters from October to early March, with minimum temperatures well below freezing for most of the winter. The weather in the remaining months is generally fine and warm during the day. Ladakh lies on the rain shadow side of the Himalayas, where dry monsoon wind reaches Leh after being robbed of its moisture across the plains, as a result, the region combines the conditions of both Arctic and desert climates.

Due to the growth in tourism in the region the Airport Authority India has commissioned a new 24,000sqm airport terminal building. The design incorporates symbolism  relating to the mountainous terrain, as well as contemporary interpretation of the local architecture and spiritual connectivity of the region.

With Sthapati Architects, India