Bengaluru Airport City Limited (BACL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), has appointed DP Architects Singapore and Portland Design UK as architectural consultants for the integrated Retail-Dining-Entertainment (RDE) Village project that is being developed at BLR Airport as part of the Airport City.

The RDE Village is built on the vision of creating a retail and lifestyle destination. Set within a high energy, bustling airport environment, the RDE Village is expected to cater to the millennial mindset. This development is envisioned to have an open fluid environment that seamlessly links multiple zones, through interactive and sensory experiences that encourage longer dwell time and repeat visits.

The state-of-the-art project would be strategically located adjacent to the Concert Arena and the Convention and Exhibition Centre – a destination which would become a dynamic lifestyle and family entertainment hub for Bengaluru residents and visitors alike.

The project will be developed on a 23-acre land, over a built-up area of 1.1 million sq ft, as a mid to high-end shopping and lifestyle destination, catering to the growing demand of this segment in Bengaluru. Connectivity to the RDE village will be boosted by the BMTC bus service and the upcoming metro lines.

BACL is developing an Airport City to standards that will be unprecedented – a futuristic city which will embrace innovation and would be a launch pad for ‘Global Urban Solutions’. This multi-asset destination aims to create a right mix of asset classes that includes Business Parks, Technology Hubs, Health District, Convention and Exhibition Centre, Knowledge Park, Hospitality, Central Park, a multipurpose Concert Arena, Retail, Dining and Entertainment Village and more. Rao Munukutla, CEO, BACL, said: “We are delighted to partner with DP Architects Singapore and Portland Design UK who are world leaders in Retail, Dining and Entertainment spaces. The RDE Village is built on the vision of creating a new destination with a deep connection to the community, culture and environment, focusing on human-centric design. This is reflected in our overall design sensibility which is innovation driven, incorporating sustainable features. We are confident that the RDE Village will continue to further add impetus in making Bengaluru as one of the most vibrant cities in India.”

“In our design of RDE Village, we wanted to push for an architectural scheme beyond simply delivering a context, community and climate-responsive design,” says AR Angelene Chan, Chairman of DP Architects. “From its spatial organisation to its structural expression, every space, form and intention is designed to embody the aspirations of the city and articulate the spirit of its community. The intent is to authentically and intuitively integrate a deep sense of place for both the local and international community, into its architectural atmosphere,” AR Chan added.

Stephen Walsh, the Regional Director for Portland Design, who will be leading the space planning for this mall said: “The RDE Village will be a transformative shopping, dining, and entertainment experience for the communities it will serve in Bengaluru and beyond, enabling visitors to explore and enjoy multi-itineraries in varying sensory landscapes. Our work will help create the stories and experiences that will attract, invite, circulate, display, persuade and reassure customers as they spend time and money benefiting from all that will be on offer.”

Enabled competently by technology, the RDE Village will be a mall that aims to be ahead of the curve, by deeply engaging customers across all forms of Retail, Dining and Entertainment. Regular retail will be accompanied by frequent pop-up incubators, dining experiences will run the gamut of local cuisines to those driven by international chefs, and sensory experiences in the mall across age groups will encourage longer dwell time and ensure repeat visits.

BLR Airport has witnessed phenomenal growth during the past several years, becoming one of the fastest growing airports in the world. BLR Airport concluded the Calendar Year 2019 with 33.65 million passengers. BACL’s vision is to develop an Airport City as an ‘International Gateway to a Sustainable, Smart, Vibrant City, celebrating a culture of Innovation’.

RDE Village will be distinguished through unique experiences like never before. This development will bring unforgettable global experiences like Times Square New York, Las Vegas, Marina Bay Sands Singapore to Bengaluru. It is set to become the destination for not just the city of Bengaluru, but as a place of interest for the country as well. It seeks to make Bengaluru as a “Vibrant Capital of India”, besides being known as the “Knowledge Capital of India”.