A flying visit to T5

The new Terminal 5 building at Heathrow has received a lot of press since it was opened last year- some for it's structure and design, much more about it's functionality (or lack of to begin with), but very little about it's landscape architecture.

While the terminal and masterplan were designed by Richard Rodgers Architects the landscape architecture was in the hands of Hyland Edgar Driver. One of the main areas to be treated is the space between the terminal car park and main entrance. A number of different techniques have been used here to create a high quality space. Central to the area is a large plaza of fountains which provide motion, sound, interest and by night, lighting. Spanning out from this on either side is a planted grid of Platanus hispanica (London Plane) trees set amongst quality paving. Finally on each end is a series of stone seating surrounding planting beds featuring further trees.

What this site possesses in quality it lacks in function. Although the centrally located fountains do turn heads it is only in passing- there is nowhere to sit anywhere near this area, or amongst the trees. The only possible function here is for people to pass through the plaza on the short journey from the car park to the terminal building. Original plans are believed to have included cafes sprawling from the terminal into the space- thus injecting a life into the area which is not apparent here.

In conclusion it seems that BAA have something of a missed opportunity here. A great space, but one which is not fully integrated into the terminal and therefore is not visited.