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VAA Clubhouse Virgin Atlantic Airways unveiled the first phase of its new £11m flagship business class lounge at Terminal 3, Heathrow Airport at the beginning of September 2005. The second and final phase opened in March 2006. The spectacular 2,500 square metre environment has been designed by London based architectural practice Softroom along with the Virgin Atlantic design team, who previously worked with Virgin Atlantic on the award-winning Upper Class Suite on board its aircraft. The ambition was established early on that the finished environment should be seen as a single flowing 'landscape'. Rather than divide the volume up into separate rooms, the space is kept as open as possible to maximise the Clubhouse's grand sense of scale. Arranged with a series of 'landmarks' and 'vistas', the layout encourages passengers to stroll and explore their surroundings, echoing the patterns of circulation and activity of a diverse city like London and also of the movement on the ground and in the skies around Heathrow. The busier, more social activities like the bar and dining areas animate the main space of the Clubhouse. Overhead, a unique sweeping ceiling recalls an expanse of sky, raked by gently drifting clouds. Its dramatic design was made possible by relocating the air-conditioning to low level, thereby avoiding the oppressive low slung grid of tiles and grilles normally found in airport environments and giving the Clubhouse an entirely original character.  |
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