Terminal 2A at Heathrow Airport | Luis Vidal + Arquitectos

Slipstream by Richard Wilson RA was commissioned by Heathrow to welcome passengers to the UK’s hub airport and has been curated by public arts agency Futurecity. Weighing 77 tonnes and measuring 78 metres, the sculpture’s twisting aluminium form is inspired by the world of aviation and captures the imagined flight path of a small stunt plane. For Wilson, the work is a response to the artistic challenge of capturing movement and a metaphor for travel; it aims to capture velocity, acceleration and deceleration in its twists and turns. Terminal 2 is much more than a building conceived for planes and passengers to take off and land: LVA has created this terminal as a destination into itself, attracting passengers to the terminal earlier than their departure time in order to spend time, enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and have experiences with the wide range of amenities, services and retail the airport has to offer. In short, Terminal 2 will make the passengers feel as relaxed as if they were at home. A sense of Britishness Terminal 2 will remain in the memory of the passenger. Heathrow’s Terminal 2 will become one of the primary gateways of the UK (both arriving and departing), which is precisely why we have worked very hard to mark the difference, to leave an impression when travelling through Terminal 2. Conceived to become an extension of the city of London, Terminal 2 establishes a sense of place, so that the passengers will see their time at the terminal as integral to their stay. Terminal 2 presents a touch of Britishness while invalidating some of the clichés related to UK: it will have enjoyable catering, and by opening the roof so that it becomes transparent, passengers will see the sky and acknowledge that, in fact, it is not always raining in London! The passenger experience There is one common element LVA has designed for every user of the future Terminal 2 at Heathrow: the passenger experience. Passengers react in different ways and moods, affected by different personal factors: time, companions, business, leisure, connecting flights... But there are also common factors that affect people: the quality of light, acoustics, perceived textures and colors, comfort, ambience, legibility of the building (understanding what comes next) and way finding, as well as views to the exterior where they can orient themselves and see the weather… Terminal 2 has been designed taking into account all of these factors, as well as the passenger’s well- being and willingness to enjoy what a great Terminal has to offer: quality of waiting spaces, ample and useful information about departures times, concessions, and shopping. The undulating roof: a multipurpose element The roof is the prominent and most recognizable feature of Terminal 2. Conceived as a lightweight structure resembling early airplanes, this feature is unique and this floating, undulating enclosure serves three different purposes:  Mark the stages of the passenger’s departure experience making navigation and way finding more instinctive as three giant vaults guide the three main stages of departure: check-in, security control and boarding lounge.  Contribute to passenger perception and comfort inside the terminal by providing consistent and steady light quality. Natural light entering from the north penetrates the building and - floods the floor plate at all times of the day. Additionally, the underside of the roof is covered with a material – almost like an artist’s canvas – which helps bounce natural light during the day and assists the reflection of artificial light at night.  Utilizing natural light from the north is a direct and conscious decision to reduce solar gain on the roof and thereby contribute significantly to the reduction of energy consumption, CO2 emissions and the Terminal’s carbon footprint. A new concept beyond retailing in airports: the importance of amenities Terminal 2 passengers will find a right balance between retailing and amenities: more than 20.000 m2 of leisure space with quality services and amenities distributed over two floors in a friendly environment and a welcoming atmosphere designed for the passengers eager to enjoy and experience Terminal 2. And, for the first time in the UK, airport passengers will have immediate access to departure gates that are located within sight of retail and concession facilities. Environmental responsibility Terminal 2 will be the world’s first airport terminal to be awarded BREEAM rating for its sustainable building design. The continued commitment to sustainable construction on Terminal 2 began before any of the new building had been erected with the demolition of its predecessor, as more than 90% of the demolished concrete was reused. Terminal 2 has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible: it incorporates an innovative and sophisticated system of active and passive measures to reduce the ecological footprint. The result is a reduction in CO2 emissions by 40 %. Flexibility and modularity For Terminal 2, LVA has provided a pragmatic, proactive and flexible approach that enhances the maximum level of operability and functionality, taking into account the future management, maintenance, as well as a future implementation of the facilities. Terminal 2 has been designed with innovative and technological solutions based on modular systems in order to allow not only a faster construction but to facilitate future growth.