The Jaya He GVK New Museum Clockwise, from below: the construction site; the new integrated Terminal 2; the airport lounge
“We had to build an icon, a monument which would stand the test of time. While the idea was simple, the task at hand was daring and ambitious” GV SANJAY REDDY
Mumbai airport now also welcomes the world’s largest passenger jet, the double-decker Airbus A380 as the runway has been strengthened and re-carpeted to handle its weight. Singapore Airlines and Emirates operate A380s to and from the city. But perhaps the most well-known feature of the airport is its magnificent display of Indian art. Jaya He is touted as the largest public art project in the world (outside a museum); it hosts 6,000 works sourced from every state in India. Many are antiques dating back to the 18th century (a personal passion of Reddy and his wife Pinky). Other works are by contemporary artists such as Riyas Komu, Mithu Sen and Anjolie Ela Menon. A single 3km-long wall showcases 97,815 sq ft of art, curated by Rajeev Sethi. “The wall is holding about 700 tonnes of artwork put together,” explains Sukhvindar Singh Chaggar, general manager of project construction. Divided into six sections, the wall features art curated from all over the country by Rajeev Sethi, telling the story of India under six broad themes—India Moves, India Greets, India Elemental, India Global, India Silent Sentinels and India Seamless. Antique doors and windows were sourced for the India Greets section, while India Seamless features work that paired artists with craftspeople from various parts of the country. T2 is also LEED Gold certified (it’s also the first airport to use bio fuel), and its GVK Lounge was awarded the world’s best First Class lounge at the 2015 World Travel Awards. (T2 has unique, combined lounges across all airlines; another bold decision by Reddy.) In October 2015, phase 3 of the airport opened, allowing Air India to shift most operations there. Tellingly, the Airport Service Quality rating has gone from 3.3 out of 5 in 2006, to 4.98 in 2015. “We converted an adversity into an opportunity by bringing to the fore India’s biggest strength: its tradition of art and design,” says Reddy. And, he adds, most importantly, it brings pride to Mumbaikars who pass through its glass façade. 177