Gelephu International Airport Wins WAF’s Highest Future Project Honour
Gelephu International Airport, designed by BIG, has won the Future Project of the Year at the World Architecture Festival 2025, celebrated for its blend of Bhutanese craftsmanship, sustainable design, and its role as the cultural gateway to Gelephu Mindfulness City.
(Source: BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group))
The design for the upcoming Gelephu International Airport, created by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), has been awarded the prestigious Future Project of the Year at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025. Widely regarded as the world’s largest annual live-judged architecture event, WAF brings together leading architects, planners, academics, and global media to celebrate the most forward-thinking ideas shaping the built environment.
The 2025 edition, held from 12–14 November, received more than 780 submissions from around the world, of which over 460 were shortlisted and reviewed by an international panel of 164 jurors representing 37 countries.
Understanding WAF: Architecture’s Most Influential Platform
First launched in 2008, the World Architecture Festival stands as the only global architectural awards programme where shortlisted teams present their work directly to a jury in a live setting. This unique format creates a rare platform that champions transparency, rigorous debate, and professional exchange. Each year, WAF recognises both completed buildings and future concepts, celebrating works that push boundaries in design, sustainability, cultural expression, and innovation.
The Future Project of the Year Award—WAF’s highest honour for unbuilt architectural projects—spotlights ideas with the potential to transform cities, advance public wellbeing, and redefine how culture and nature can shape the spaces we inhabit. Winning this accolade places a project among the world’s most visionary designs, marking it as a benchmark for excellence in global architectural discourse.
Bhutan’s Visionary Airport Takes Centre Stage
Before being named the overall Future Project of the Year, Gelephu International Airport first won in the Infrastructure – Future Projects category, reinforcing its global significance and architectural ambition. Far beyond a transport hub, the airport is conceived as a cultural and ecological gateway into Bhutan, particularly into Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).
BIG’s design integrates advanced engineering with traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship—especially intricate woodcarving—to create a structure that is at once modern, functional, and deeply rooted in Bhutanese identity. The WAF jury commended the project’s originality, noting that “it is unusual to see a project that integrates craft so actively into a gateway structure,” praising its balance of innovation, authenticity, and cultural continuity.
A Gateway Shaped by Bhutanese Values
As the principal arrival point into Gelephu Mindfulness City, the airport is designed to embody the city’s philosophy of balance, harmony, and wellbeing. Throughout the design process, GMC and BIG worked closely to ensure that the architectural vision aligns with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar's aspirations for a city where nature, culture, and thoughtful development move in harmony. Every design element is intended to welcome visitors into a place where spiritual heritage, ecological sensitivity, and contemporary living coexist purposefully.
Voices Behind the Achievement
Giulia Fritolli, Partner at BIG, expressed the team’s gratitude, saying, “We are deeply honored to receive this recognition at WAF. Gelephu International Airport celebrates Bhutanese culture while exploring new possibilities in sustainable and human-centered design. It has been a privilege to work on a project that holds such significance for Bhutan and embodies a vision of architecture that serves both people and place.”
Governor of GMC, Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, highlighted the award’s deeper meaning for Bhutan, stating, “This recognition affirms Bhutan’s belief that development can be both innovative and deeply rooted in our development philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Gelephu International Airport embodies His Majesty the King’s vision of progress anchored in harmony, values, and human wellbeing. We are honoured that the WAF jury has seen the promise this project holds for Gelephu Mindfulness City and for Bhutan’s role in shaping thoughtful, future-ready urban development.”
A Milestone for GMC and Bhutan’s Global Architectural Presence
For Gelephu Mindfulness City, this award marks an important milestone in its journey and an affirmation of Bhutan’s growing presence on the global architectural stage. The Future Project of the Year honour places Bhutan alongside some of the world’s most innovative and forward-looking design initiatives, reflecting the nation’s commitment to development guided by cultural integrity, environmental stewardship, and human wellbeing.
