At Lazerian, we are thrilled to be working with Manchester Airport and the Manchester School of Architecture to bring a piece of Manchester’s rich history back to life in a new and exciting way. As part of the £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2, we’ve been tasked with reimagining one of the airport’s iconic chandeliers—an unforgettable feature for those who remember Terminal 1’s grand departure hall.

Now, as we move forward with this project, we need your help.

We’ve created three unique design concepts for the reimagined chandelier, each with its own story and connection to the city of Manchester. As a community-centered studio, we want you—the people of Manchester and those who travel through its airport—to decide which design will represent your home and welcome visitors from all over the world.

Here are the three concepts we’ve developed:

• Atmospheric Reflections of the North: A celebration of the North’s industrial past and ever-changing weather, this concept mirrors the resilience and vibrancy of Northern England.
• The Northern Nexus: A design that symbolises Manchester Airport as a key gateway, connecting people, places, and ideas across the globe.
• The Buzz of Connectivity: Taking inspiration from Manchester’s iconic worker bee and the buzz of airport life, this design highlights the energy and connection the airport brings to the region.

Concept 1: Atmospheric Reflections of the North

This installation delves into the industrial heritage of Northern England, intertwining its rich history with the evocative elements of its climate and modern travel hub, Manchester Airport. The artwork aims to transform the airport space into a realm of enchantment and reflection, inviting travellers to immerse themselves in a unique sensory experience.

The Installation

A series of cloud-like shapes will appear to float effortlessly within the airport, each composed of hundreds of parachute and balloon-like forms. These forms, crafted from woven textiles, are suspended in time, symbolising the North’s renowned textile industry. Crystal water droplets dangle from these shapes, creating a visual spectacle reminiscent of rain clouds.

Historical and Cultural Links

• Textile Industry: The woven textiles pay homage to the North’s historic prominence in the textile sector, a cornerstone of its industrial revolution.

• James Sadler and Hot Air Balloons: The design draws inspiration from James Sadler, an aviation pioneer, and his contributions to early hot air ballooning.

• Parachute Training at Manchester Airport: The parachute forms echo the training that took place at Manchester Airport for paratroopers, adding a layer of local military history to the installation.

Atmospheric Essence

The formation of these elements culminates in the creation of rain clouds, evoking the often rainy weather of Manchester and the surrounding regions. This not only connects the installation to the local climate but also enhances the sense of place within the airport.

By merging historical references with contemporary design, this installation creates a magical atmosphere, blending past and present, and inviting visitors to explore the rich tapestry of the North’s industrial and cultural legacy.

Concept 2: The Northern Nexus

Concept 2 captures the essence of Manchester Airport as the primary hub connecting Northern England to the world. Through a meticulously designed installation, this concept visualises the region’s extensive transportation networks, underscoring the airport’s critical role in linking the North to global destinations.

The Installation

The installation features three layers of oversized, branch-like networks inspired by maps of the region’s major transportation routes: A-roads, motorways, and rail lines. These scaled-up forms are crafted to represent the intricate web of connections defining the airport’s catchment area.

Layered Networks

• A Roads: The first layer showcases the detailed network of A roads, symbolising the arterial routes that weave through the Northern landscape, connecting towns and cities to the airport.

• Motorways: The second layer introduces the motorways, illustrating the high-speed, long-distance routes facilitating rapid travel across the region and beyond.

• Rail Lines: The third layer represents the rail networks, emphasising public transportation’s role in linking various locales to Manchester Airport.

Design Inspiration and Structure

Drawing inspiration from the early Avro planes created in Manchester, the branch network forms utilise a lightweight yet strong framework. This design mimics the structural ingenuity of Avro aircraft, featuring tension wires to maintain integrity and stability. The combination of these historical references with modern materials creates a visually striking and resilient structure.

Interconnecting Structures and Crystal Droplets

From these interconnecting, branch-like structures hang numerous crystal droplets. These droplets add elegance and visual intrigue while symbolising the myriad connections and destinations accessible through the airport. Each droplet represents the flow of people, goods, and cultures, converging and diverging at this central hub.

Symbolism and Impact

This concept artfully combines cartographic precision with artistic expression to highlight the airport’s role as a connector. The overlapping networks create a dynamic and engaging visual experience, inviting travellers to contemplate the vast web of connections linking the North to the world.

By scaling up and transforming transportation maps into a captivating installation, Concept 2 celebrates the airport’s significance in fostering connectivity, mobility, and global exchange for the Northern region. The incorporation of Avro plane-inspired design elements pays homage to Manchester’s aviation heritage, blending history with the future in a seamless and thought-provoking manner.

Concept 3: The Buzz of Connectivity

Concept 3 draws inspiration from the iconic symbol of Manchester—the bee—fusing its rich historical and cultural significance with a creative exploration of modern aviation. This installation is a collaboration with bees, blending natural ingenuity with human engineering to create a captivating structure that reflects the bustling activity and connectivity of Manchester Airport.

The Installation

The installation begins with the study of flight paths originating from Manchester Airport. These intricate routes are scaled up and transformed into a 3D framework, representing the global connections facilitated by the airport. This framework is then handed over to a colony of bees, allowing them to inhabit and build honeycomb around it.

Design and Creation Process

• Flight Paths: The initial structure is based on the complex network of flight paths, showcasing the extensive reach of Manchester Airport’s connections.
• Bee Collaboration: Bees are introduced to this framework, where they naturally create honeycomb around the structure, adding an organic and dynamic layer to the installation.
• Scaling Up: The resulting bee-constructed framework is then scaled up to form the final installation, preserving the intricate patterns and natural formations created by the bees.

Crystal Droplets and Symbolism

Clusters of crystal droplets are strategically placed where the bees have decided to create honeycomb, giving the illusion of honey dripping from the structure. These droplets represent the crystal droplets that once hung in Terminal 1, adding a nostalgic touch and linking the past to the present.

Impact and Experience

This concept merges natural processes with human design, symbolising the symbiotic relationship between nature and technology. The bees’ contribution highlights the importance of cooperation and community, reflecting Manchester’s industrious spirit. The installation not only celebrates the local symbol of the bee but also emphasises the global connections made possible through Manchester Airport.

Visitors are invited to witness this unique blend of art, nature, and technology, experiencing the sense of connectivity and bustling activity that defines both the city and its airport. The dripping crystal droplets evoke the sweetness of honey, symbolising the fruitful outcomes of collaboration and connection.

By transforming the airport’s flight paths into a bee-inhabited structure, Concept 3 creates a mesmerising visual representation of Manchester’s link to the world, underpinned by the industrious and collaborative nature of bees. This installation is a testament to the city’s heritage and its forward-looking vision, celebrating connectivity, innovation, and community.

We believe each design holds something special for Manchester, but we want your voice to guide this important decision. Vote for your favourite design today here and help shape a new chapter for Terminal 2.

Be Part of the Story

As we move forward with this project, we’re also creating a documentary to capture the stories and memories that these chandeliers have sparked over the decades. Whether you remember these chandeliers from family holidays, emotional farewells, or simply admiring their beauty, we want to hear your stories. These memories are a vital part of this project, and we’d love for you to be involved.

If you, a family member, or a friend have a special memory of these chandeliers, please reach out and share it with us. Your personal stories will only be shared with the Lazerian team and those working on the chandelier project—they will not be used for any marketing communications.

A New Beginning for an Old Icon

For decades, the Venetian chandeliers were the crown jewels of Terminal 1, admired by travellers and locals alike. Originally designed by Stefan Buzas and hand-blown by master glassmaker Bruno Zanetti at the famous Venini factory in Murano, Italy, these chandeliers were a masterpiece of craftsmanship. They were installed when Prince Philip opened Terminal 1 in 1962, and each weighed an impressive two tonnes and featured over 1,300 pieces of crystal.

Though the chandeliers were taken down in 2003, one of them has been preserved for this project. Our goal is to honor that history while giving it new life in Terminal 2, making it a fitting tribute to Manchester’s past and its bright future.