Last week, after landing at Heathrow after a short flight and remembering that I had little food at home, I went up to departures and had some food in Carluccio's. And seeing the departure level pretty empty, I was reminded what an extraordinary building terminal five is. Maybe it was because I'd recently passed through the depressingly cramped space of Manchester terminal three, that helped me to see Heathrow's terminal five as such a stunning bit of architecture. But with its huge expanse of space stretching out before me and the macho arm-like structures on the edges that reach up to hold the roof, I was just wowed once again. It really is probably one of my favourite buildings.
That's it really. Just wanted to share my continued amazement of it.
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I quite agree and BA does well to have it. It's a handsome, airy, building - and I realise how good and cleverly designed it is when I'm in any other terminal anywhere.
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It is a very impressive building when compared to many other similar transport structures (and non-transport structures for that matter).
I think there are a few relatively minor layout tweaks required (eg. escalator positioning, Flight Connections), but largely it is a very well designed building IMO.
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Another vote of confidence for T5. The more I travel through it (and compare it with FRA, CDG, CPH, AMS, BRU, TXL) the more I find it very well designed. Basically it works for the regular flyer. But I think you point your finger at one particular aspect: if you are there late at night, when most of the short hauls have gone, there's a wonderful calming atmosphere over the whole place.
Last week, after landing at Heathrow after a short flight and remembering that I had little food at home, I went up to departures and had some food in Carluccio's. And seeing the departure level pretty empty, I was reminded what an extraordinary building terminal five is. Maybe it was because I'd recently passed through the depressingly cramped space of Manchester terminal three, that helped me to see Heathrow's terminal five as such a stunning bit of architecture. But with its huge expanse of space stretching out before me and the macho arm-like structures on the edges that reach up to hold the roof, I was just wowed once again. It really is probably one of my favourite buildings.
That's it really. Just wanted to share my continued amazement of it.
I quite agree about LHR T5, although MAN Terminal B, later to become T3, also had it day...a great improvement on the old pier A. Sadly, whilst new buildings can start well, adaptation and 'transformation' can ruin the original integrity and degrade the place to a mess. Let's hope LHR T5 can keep its integrity and principle design features.
Agreed, although it's often difficult to appreciate it fully from within, especially with the hotch-potch of 'temporary' structures inside and the duty free maze.
And at night, you have to wonder about their electricity bill
I'm always awestruck by Canary Wharf tube station though.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AJLondon
LHR T5A is one of the best airport terminal buildings in the world IMO. Love the bright, airy feel and the spaciousness. (Only HKG is comparable IMO.)
From a design standpoint, I very much agree. Only a handful of terminals can match it. From a usability perspective, it's really so-so. But that's probably BAA's fault, not the designers'.
A more extreme example, perhaps, is PEK T3 which has an incredible design but the layout, flow, and size are all a mess.
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It's a really impressive structure. It is beautifully designed. So glad I get to drive past it everyday although the on/off ramps leading to the drop off points and car park aren't the prettiest.
The check in area even when busy always has a calmness about it. I guess it's the vast height to the roof.
I love sitting in the lounge and just looking at the huge framework of the building.
Can't wait for the new replacement t1/2 to be complete. That's looking exiting too.
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a fantastic building
T5 is a great building. But you have to be careful in the immigration queue if you talk about anything private or someone else in the queue (!) as everything you say is amplified by the upside down dishes in the ceiling!
T5 is a great building. But you have to be careful in the immigration queue if you talk about anything private or someone else in the queue (!) as everything you say is amplified by the upside down dishes in the ceiling!
Is that the feeling that your voice is being recorded? I had that the other day - like suddenly talking into a microphone, or your voice reverberating inside your head?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jrichardf
Last week, after landing at Heathrow after a short flight and remembering that I had little food at home, I went up to departures and had some food in Carluccio's. And seeing the departure level pretty empty, I was reminded what an extraordinary building terminal five is. Maybe it was because I'd recently passed through the depressingly cramped space of Manchester terminal three, that helped me to see Heathrow's terminal five as such a stunning bit of architecture. But with its huge expanse of space stretching out before me and the macho arm-like structures on the edges that reach up to hold the roof, I was just wowed once again. It really is probably one of my favourite buildings.
That's it really. Just wanted to share my continued amazement of it.
Nice building but the interior layout was a little ill conceived. A huge empty check in hall but cramped in the security areas and downstairs in the shopping space. Good, but could and should have done better.
HKG is still the benchmark for me, despite the nasty little satellite terminal with the 1xx gates that opened a few years ago.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Swanhunter
Nice building but the interior layout was a little ill conceived. A huge empty check in hall but cramped in the security areas and downstairs in the shopping space. Good, but could and should have done better.
HKG is still the benchmark for me, despite the nasty little satellite terminal with the 1xx gates that opened a few years ago.
I agree, the checkin hall is too big and some of the other areas too small. But almost the best airport terminal in the world after HKG.
Who'd have thought the two best terminals in the world are effectively British?
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