Virgin Atlantic Airways’s staff centre known as ‘The Base’ is located in the area immediately surrounding London Gatwick airport.  It serves primarily as a training centre for Virgin and other airlines’ flight staff but also includes several other elements to serve the users’ needs. Universal conceived this new intervention as an insertion distinct from the ‘ordinariness’ of typical outlying airport architecture. This was achieved by tying in the surrounding landscape through the use of courtyards, zones and materials.

The newly formed band of programme sweeps the visitor into the reception area and draws them through the building by the use of a series of ‘external’ courtyards characterised by natural light, trees and areas for seating. Such an awareness of the internal versus the external space within the 190,000 sq ft development acts as an important orientation tool for the visitor.

Meanwhile, between and beside each internalised ‘external’ space is a series of objects which clearly describe their function: an auditorium, a cafe/ bar, a salon, a shop, a library, a travel centre, an intranet zone and a restaurant.  These once again aim to give the visitor a sense of belonging within the envelope which could appear initially to be a barren space.

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