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Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) now has a stunning new addition - a vast green wall called the 'Tiger Wings' or 'Patrick Wall.' This vertical garden spans over 4,000 square feet and includes more than 15,000 plants from 153 native species. The famous botanist Patrick Blanc, known for his work in creating vertical gardens, designed this installation after exploring Bengaluru and the Western Ghats to select the plants. The 'Tiger Wings' wall, located at Terminal 2 of KIA, is 30 feet tall and 160 feet wide, divided into two sections of 80 feet each.
What makes this garden unique is its soilless hydroponic system, developed by Blanc himself. Unlike most green walls that use coco peat or similar soil-less mixtures, this wall uses a special felt material imported from Germany, allowing plants to grow without soil. This setup provides a sustainable, clean way for the plants to flourish, explained by Sneha Subhedar, General Manager of Landscaping at Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL). This green wall is an example of innovative gardening and a step towards eco-friendly practices.
Blanc has worked in India for over 20 years, but he often found that few Indian species were available for vertical gardens. Most projects relied on plants from tropical regions outside India, such as tropical America or Africa. Blanc pointed out the need to propagate and nurture Indian plant species for such projects to increase biodiversity in Indian landscapes.
The 'Tiger Wings' wall was officially unveiled by Hari Marar, Managing Director & CEO of BIAL, who shared his excitement about seeing the plants bloom fully, hoping they will look like a tiger stretched across the wall. This unique garden not only beautifies the airport but also aligns with BIAL's sustainability goals, showing how modern infrastructure can embrace green practices.
In terms of maintenance, the vertical garden includes an efficient irrigation system. Murali Mohan Bebartta, Senior Manager of Irrigation at BIAL, explained that this setup delivers just the right amount of water directly through the felt layers, conserving water while keeping the plants healthy.
The plants used in the 'Tiger Wings' wall were grown in BIAL's nursery, managed by Ashok Challapilli. This nursery houses nearly 200 species and over a hundred thousand plants, showing the airport's commitment to promoting biodiversity.
The 'Tiger Wings' at KIA is a true example of how modern architecture and nature can come together. This green wall not only beautifies the airport but also shows the way forward for sustainable landscaping.
