So, onto my thoughts about the actual MAN-TP.
1) when this TP was first made public, the big emphasis was 'we want to end the bolt on culture', referring to the fact the majority of MAN's evolution has come from just 'adding bits on'.
So, what do they go and do? They go and bolt the new bit of T2 on to the old bit, with absalutely no attempt made to 'sew' the fabric together. It's just a case of 'there's the old bit, and there's the new bit'. Even internally, when you watch the latest fly through, there has been no attempt to make a 'sweeping' check in to make it all look the same. You can clearly see where the old bit was, it's not really being updated! You just couldn't make this s*%t up!
2) the maze of shops.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not naive, I'm not stupid, I know the majority of airport revenue now comes from retail and car parking. I know why MAN needs to put retail into the terminal.
But, to create what can only be described as a maze of shops where you can't see the end of the maze from the starting point is one thing, but then to have that annoying narration actually try and insult our intelligence by stating this basically 'isn't a maze of shops' is another level of annoyance all together!
3) the 'new' western pier.
So, MAN were convinced to demolish the current western pier, and build a new one. 'That's ok' I thought. 'They could make the new one just as light and airy as the old' I mused. How wrong was I. It's now a narrow, up and down Luton-esque passageway that does no justice to the rest of the terminal at all. It looks bloody horrific. The finger pier itself is lovely, but the passageway to it, Jesus, what are they smoking!
4) low ceilings.
Why the low ceilings everywhere all of a sudden? The old renders had the current high ceilings with roof Windows like they are just after security and just before duty free. Now, it's dark dingy corridors. Why? Just why?
5) Narrator 'lots of travelators to get you to the gates faster'. Yeah, lots of travelators that WONT BLOODY WORK! How about having a week of full travelators working on the skylink before you cockily announce how great the new travelators will be!
6) immigration. So many manned desks, yet they can't even manage to open 3 desks in the current terminal setups. Who exactly are they trying to fool when they have 30-40 desks?
7) the finger piers.
As said, to go from 4 to pretty much just 2 is ridiculous, especially when MAN made such a song and dance about having 'more contact stands'. Like I said too, why the pier leading directly off the main terminal body is the one they have chosen to hold back is just bonkers. What the hell has happened to these piers!
Overall, this terminal could have been something special. There are some great elements, such as that central staircase to the food courts, the lounge mock up looks fab, and if they had made the check in all the same right along the terminal, then, it would have looked amazing. Even security looks a bit better set up.
However, I just can't get excited by this project just yet. I feel there has been too much value engineering, and while I know most initial renders of building works do the same, I feel this project was over promised and under delivered. What the hell has happened to the finger piers is the biggest question, it was pretty much the foundation of this whole project. It's like getting everyone together for a quick 5 a side match and telling everyone 'we won't be needing a football for this game'!
It's just so frustrating. I appriciate there are budget constraints, logistics, planning etc, but, it just seems they have gone for price over quality, something that could be longer lasting. This feels like they will need to spend a lot more on post-build Maintence etc, so, will pay for it all either way.....
