Aw(Air)ness

A Field Study of the Ottawa International Airport YOW Airport | Ottawa, Canada

Airports have a generic architecture, void of meaning and are often considered a non-place. These buildings are perfect to understand people since they are the funnel before departures. How can we better understand non-places from a human being’s experience? Presence is comprehension. By attending weekly visits to the airport one can begin to understand the building and themselves within it.

Time-lapse photography captures movement. Hierarchical paths of circulation where higher traffic areas are wider to create direction. One might retreat to a smaller space to treat anxiety. One can notice social interactions and social norms: tense parents, unenthused workers, excited children and watchful officers. Drawing allows one to dwell longer with a place to understand it. Moments are bittersweet when people are being dropped off, hugs are given and hands are let go.

The vast spaces create a lightness preparing travellers to fly. They are used by authoritative figures to monitor the patrons. Breathing can be difficult in airports because of the stressful timely nature necessary for flight schedules and architecture is not always the solution. Here, an installation serves as a reminder. A continuously inflating and deflating clothed lung floating above people. The exhaled air propels paper airplanes to circle it.

The paper plane means to start over or to throw oneself into the future. The airport is the final space one can call home and the first place to discover. The airport is the gate towards one’s future since it doesn’t allow stillness; it wants all to move forward. It is difficult to spend time in this space because it is not designed to be dwelled in, it is made to be moved through. Stopping in the airport allows reflection on it as well as on oneself thus we learn that emotions function as a plane–continuously ascending and descending. With time, breath and patience come realization, knowledge and progress.

Elevation

Memory bank

Data stored in protected shell. Linked to staff computers.

Full assembly axo

Computer

As the air moves towards the lung sensors pick up its characteristics. The computer dictates how much air needs to be pumped into the lungs. It senses the mood of the people and adapts its breathing pattern.

Gliding plane trajectory

Planes circle around the lung showing its importance.

Floating lung

Inflating and delfating. Air is released at the bottom creating a wheezing sound. the smell and feel of outside air can be sensed.

Air intake purifier

Tubes peirce the exterior skin on the airport to seize the wind. Capturing the smell and temperature.

Plane folding instructions to be completed after installation

Plan view