Southampton international airport
CLIENT PRESENTATION
NOVEMBER 2013
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 1
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Client aspiration: To redefine the passenger experience, by the embodiment of the brand and “Breeze Through” ethos in support of establishing Southampton as Europe’s leading regional airport. Top 6 objectives: • Promotion of the brand and “easy, fast and friendly” commitment as the passenger experience throughout the terminal environment • Utilisation of the benefits, qualities and environment of the existing building to best effect • Creation, through clear concept and design, a legible, fresh, contemporary, comfortable and exciting internal environment that is efficient, functional and caters to passenger needs • Provision of spaces and zones within the concourses with differing environment, use and character tailored to user demographic and profile. • Delivery of the unexpected positive, and a unique user experience • An environment that will feel high quality contemporary and fresh for 5 – 10 years ahead
The passengers: • typically professionals, cruse market, tourism and educational institutions • highest proportion in the range of 40 – 55+ years of age • typically travel by car or by train • growth in travellers from London, attracted by the good transport links • attracted by intimate traveling experience offered by Southampton Airport. It is therefore key that this initiative seeks to build on Southampton Airports USP and brand, in order to retain its appeal but also renew efforts to build its profile and customer base.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 2
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver The building: The building has a modern character complemented by contemporary design themes which were carried through the landscape, interior, fittings and furniture when constructed and handed over in 1994. Over the last 20 years the integrity and quality of the spaces have been eroded by adaptation, installations and interventions that in many cases have neither adhered to the original architectural palette nor airport brand.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 3
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver The terminal: The terminal environment as experienced by the passenger is zoned into 4 key zones:
Zone 1 Airport Forecourt: Access to and from the airport building is experienced in many different ways but all via the immediate airport forecourt whether by car via the car park, courtesy bus service, train via the adjacent Parkway rail station, by taxi or foot.
Zone 2 Landside terminal concourse: comprising the landside concourse which accommodates automated check in machines, check in desks, landside retail, food and beverage concession, seating, waiting areas and ancillary spaces and departures through to central search.
Zone 3 Airside departures concourse: comprising retail outlets, departure gates, associated seating, waiting areas and ancillary spaces and services.
Zone 4 Airside arrivals concourse: comprising domestic and international baggage collection halls, immigration, customs, ancillary spaces and access to landside terminal.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
key incorporated into colour zoned plan of terminal
Page 4
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Approach Every project is unique, each having its own specific drivers. To ensure we achieve the best possible outcome we employ a simple and robust four-stage approach that can be applied to each phase of the design and delivery process. The BrightSpace approach ensures that we understand, explore potential options, resolve and deliver the best outcome. Understand Explore Resolve Deliver
‘understand’
analyse - the brief, the site, the drivers listen
- to the client, end users, stakeholders
analyse - from previous projects and project team’s experience
‘explore’ create - ideas, concepts, options, design approaches, discussion challenge
- the options, the preconceptions, the brief
test -the preferred options, the agreed way forward
‘resolve’ present - present the emerging ideas, concept proposals evolve
- the design in concept and detail
agree -the best solution, the way forward
‘deliver’ control - the program, the team, project data manage
- the process, stakeholder expectations
fulfil -the project brief and client drivers
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 5
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver The passenger Experience The optimum passenger experience is dictated by the appropriate apportionment of the
“Easy”
“Fast”
For expediency we have constrained our assessment to the following criteria:
“Friendly”
With the intention of optimisation of passenger experience in mind, we prepared a brief analysis and via an office design workshop have pulled together a palette of ideas as to how each zone could deliver against this objective.
from approach, through
the terminal to the point of arrival. Depending on the phase of the journey issues such as movement, legibility, spatial quality, environment will be important in differing measure.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
•
Environment
•
Movement
•
Spatial quality
•
Legibility
•
Brand
Page 6
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 1 - Airport Forecourt Environment The current forecourt is a result of an evolution in the way that passengers arrive and depart the building. There has been a focus on resolution of immediate requirements over many years with no cohesive thought as to the impact on the whole space resulting in an environment that falls short of aspirations and does little to communicate or support the brand message.
Movement The forecourt, historically an extension of the local road network is now a controlled zone with limited vehicular access and has retained priority of vehicles over pedestrians.
Spatial quality The forecourt is unprotected from the elements, with the exception of a circa 3m overhang to the eaves, the pedestrian enclosed route towards the pedestrian crossing to the railway and some pedestrian shelters in the central reservation. The forecourt is enlivened by some reasonable quality landscape, sculpture feature and flagpoles but these are constrained to the margins of the historic highway layout.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 7
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 1 - Airport Forecourt Legibility The legibility and wayfinding across the forecourt to the terminal relies on utilitarian signage to direct the passenger to the arrivals and departures entrance doors, with no direct view of the building entrances. The visual clutter generated on the margins of the roadways negatively impacts on the legibility and quality of the experience. The route from the station again relies on utilitarian signage for wayfinding and shelter type pedestrian canopies to guide the pedestrian to an oblique entrance. The service yard with its open access points, visual clutter, poor quality screening, leads to a confused foreground to the primary approach to the building.
Branding Southampton Airport signage whilst present does not embody the “Breeze Through� brand and has been allowed to be devalued through proximity, size and location of advertising and other on site brands. The result is that the signage that exists is competing with other more visually prominent brands to the detriment of both legibility, wayfinding and most importantly Southampton Airport and its brand.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 8
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 9
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 2 - Landside Concourse Environment The overall impact of signage, the full range of branding, fittings, furnishings and the incongruous use of conflicting colours and monochrome finished detracts from what is a dynamic and attractive space. The use of blackout film on the roof lights above the central search departures area creates a dark area which draws the eye away from access to departures and ads to the impression of gloom within the concourse.
Movement With the central search area in the middle of this linear space, this creates two distinct zones for both arrivals and departures, each with their distinct entrance. However those arriving at the airport via train and in some cases by taxi access the building via the arrivals exit so creating a movement which at times may be contra to those exiting from arrivals
Spatial quality The form of the building and roof form create a dynamic space that builds in volume on approach through the entrance doors to the baggage check in and central search area. The roof lights further enhance the experience, drama and quality of the space. However due to issues of glare some of the roof lights have now been obscured which in combination with the monochrome pallet, finishes and subdued lighting, creates a gloomy interior.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 10
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 2 - Landside Concourse Legibility The concourse is compact and the facilities can generally be viewed easily along the concourse. However the space has a plethora of visual clutter, images, signage, advertising, fittings and furnishings that undermine the inherent legibility of the space. In addition the entrance to departures through central search is via a zone set perpendicular to the concourse without responding to the desire line from check in departures. The use of hard copy information and small ceiling mounted screens for information is inflexible and lacks impact.
Brand Whilst the brand is present its impact is weak and limited to the entrance lobby and on film applied to the eastern glazed wall which is compounded by the former being a low dwell area and the latter being incidental to the line of travel/ eye line. In addition the concourse is heavily branded by a multitude of other entities, from airlines to concessions which dilutes the brand and places more emphasis on the airports partners that the airport itself.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 11
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 12
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 3 - Airside Departures Environment The overall use of space, presence of dead ends, impact of signage, the full range of branding, fittings, furnishings and the incongruous use of conflicting colours and monochrome finished detracts from what is a dynamic and attractive space.
Movement The WDF due to its layout and positioning promotes a single pass retail experience and does not encourage repeat flow or high dwell time. It sits within the main body of the concourse creating marginalised areas and dead end spaces
Spatial quality The area to the east of WDF is light and airy, benefitting from the glazing facing the runway and high level roof lighting (until the new gates access is constructed) The mezzanine landing, is brightly lit by the rooflights above but due to its shape and dimension is a transitory space and offers a view down to the lounge below, but a less attractive view of the roof of WDF, which can also be seen from the food and beverage outlet above. The area to the south of WDF is long and thin and is less attractive due to the low soffit height and low levels of natural daylight. The blank wall to the rear of WDF and the dead end configuration do nothing to enliven the space. The blue lighting of the steel support beams accentuates the length of the space and the low vertical planes of the beams themselves.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 13
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 3 - Airside Departures Legibility The space is relatively contained with the opportunity to view all but the WCs and some of the lounge from a point emerging WDF however the space has a plethora of visual clutter, images, signage, advertising, fittings and furnishings that undermine the inherent legibility of the space.
Brand Whilst branding has been applied to the glazed gable other brands have been allowed to encroach infront of the graphic. Again advertising and branding of partner companies has detracted from the “breeze through� brand and its visibility
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 14
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 15
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 4 - Airside Arrivals Environment The arrival experience lacks sparkle or any sense of excitement. The combination of poor quality lighting and low ceilings makes for a gloomy first impression for arriving passengers.
Movement Movement is short and direct particularly for domestic and international passengers who have nothing to declare to customs
Spatial quality The concourse is spatially similar to that in airside departures but has the advantage of increasing volume as passengers move through the baggage collection area, which at its highest point is lit from above with rooflights. However the areas towards the lower end of the roof, on entry have low levels of natural daylight and feel gloomy, which is exacerbated by the monochrome dĂŠcor and poor quality lighting.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 16
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver Zone 4 - Airside Arrivals Legibility The space is relatively contained and the exit point is directly in view – a large linear opening in the spine wall which is accentuated by a contrast colour feature wall to the corridor beyond.
Brand The concourse is heavily branded by a multitude of other entities placing more emphasis on the airports partners that the airport itself.
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 17
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 18
Understand Explore Resolve Deliver
Do a bit? Do more? Do everything?
13064: Southampton International airport Presentation
Page 19