Cosford's Cold War Hangar

I agree Ant,

If you look at DX’s Airspace plans it has one set of doors , behind those will be the ‘restoration’ section, then behind that is the airspace display… Once those airframes go in there for display i doubt very much we will see them in the open air ever again…:(

It seems to me that architects have this skill of designing buildings with minimal input from the people who use them…:mad:

Whilst I agree that it helps to have a groundbreaking building to bring in the punters and/or make the whole plan seem appealing in the first place, I don’t see why the building has to be impractical and down-right ugly.To my mind,an architect fails if he/she can’t design a building which is functional aswell as groundbreaking,particularly when you consider it in aviation terms,where the designs have to look right aswell as function properly.
When I suggested a ‘whacking great hanger’,I should perhaps have added that it wouldn’t have to be a hangar as such,but something which was ‘hangaresque’ in it’s layout,function and practicality.There is simply no need for all these jutting angles and sloping roofs,IMHO you can still make an attractive building whilst sticking to the basic four-sided hangar principle.What about a steel structure with plenty of glass to let the light in and openable hangar-like doors at both ends?And/Or perhaps with an ornate steel/glass domed roof?I’m just thinking out loud here,but my point is that surely you don’t have to design something that looks like a crumpled giant sardine tin.

Whacking Great Hangers Please!

Totally with you on this one ant!

However i do feel that Hatton has hit the nail on the Head.

These buildings need to be ‘Trendy etc etc’ to attract the funding.

I visited milestones at Hendon recently (Bloody silly name!) and whilst the milestones ‘Hanger’ was packed, The Graeme Wight hanger had four people in it, one of which was a security guard!

Our larger aviation museums need to entertain the ‘Playstation’ generation and parked aeroplanes in a hanger probably doesn’t achieve this, after all the likes of IWM and RAFM are competeing for the ‘Family Day out’ market.

i can just about cope with Hendon hanging aeroplanes up but i think IWM Duxford have made a BIG error with ‘Airspace’ and ‘AAM’ they have ‘locked away’ all there airframes by hanging them. At the 60th Dambusters comemoration at last years Duxford May air display a friend suggested that Duxfords Lanc be placed on the FLightline next to BBMF’s Where else would you see two lancs on the flightline??? Anyway Duxford have/will really restrict there flexibility to use exhibits to promote airshows!

They may as well be 20miles down the road…

Dez

how ever they design new buildings for aircraft they are stil hangers designed to house aircraft. perhaps the aim is to attract more paying visitors which cant be a bad thing, can it?

I guess it’s more fun for the visiting dignitaries to visit a groundbreaking new design for a hanger rather than a modern interpretation of an old design. Too much emphasis is being put on buildings and not enough on the actual content.

Ant, i’m in complete agreement with your ‘whacking great hanger’ suggestion but i think as is often the case for ventures which are funded in this way, applications for funding which include buildings or architectural interest and innovation are looked upon in a more favourable light (American Air Museum for example) than just a plan for a straightforward practical proposal.

Steve