The construction of a fifth terminal at London Heathrow, seen as critical to the airport’s continuing position as the busiest in Europe, provides dramatic opportunities for commercial photography. The winning scheme is based on a projected capacity of 30 million passengers annually and reflects the success of ‘single-level’ airport terminals such as London Stansted, designed by Norman Foster for the British Airports Authority, also the client at Heathrow, a dream commission for an architectural photographer.
The passenger areas at Terminal 5 are on one level as illustrated in the architectural photography images above, with plant rooms, baggage handling and other ancillary functions below, though passenger areas extend over two levels at both edges of the building. The immense roof is dynamically curved, with great bands of glazing flooding the interior with daylight and leading passengers through the building in a logical progression from arrival point to embarkation.
The building is effectively a dramatic progression of spaces, which vary in height according to their function and a commercial photography dream. The structure is strongly expressed, with great structural ‘trees’ supporting the roof, illustrated in the commercial photography images above. Aircraft load and unload at stands on the core building, as well as at two satellites served by a rapid-transit system shown in the architectural photography. Provision is made for an underground and mainline rail link from central London, contained in deep tunnels. Natural ventilation is impractical in view of noise and air pollution from aircraft but the design adopts an energy-efficient strategy using a displacement air-conditioning system developed by Arup and shading by means of canopies and low eaves to reduce solar gain on the long east and west elevations as shown in the featured architectural photography.
Awards:
British Construction Industry Awards - Highly Commended 2008
Structural Steel Design Award 2008
RIBA National Award 2008
RIBA London Award 2008
