Comments on: How To See Airports (And Other Bad Places) http://mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/how-to-see-airports?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-see-airports I Came, I Saw, I Suffered Immensely Mon, 21 May 2012 00:23:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Richard P http://mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/how-to-see-airports#comment-1150 Richard P Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:16:08 +0000 http://www.mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/?p=914#comment-1150 I realise that I just described what I think a GOOD airport is.... so a bad one would be the opposite of the above. I realise that I just described what I think a GOOD airport is…. so a bad one would be the opposite of the above.

]]> By: Richard P http://mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/how-to-see-airports#comment-1149 Richard P Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:15:20 +0000 http://www.mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/?p=914#comment-1149 Thats a tricky one.... I mean, I guess it hinges on what you are expecting the airport to DO for you... on the one hand, we want an airport to be efficient... so, an airport which is easy to navigate, which quickly takes you through all the steps you need to complete on your journey, is a good airport. If you're expecting something BEYOND that, then I guess it comes down to things like the architecture and amenities. A spacious, airy, cool airport with a good range of places to eat, relax and pass away the time is what you need. Combining the two of these together is something they rarely get right... Thats a tricky one….

I mean, I guess it hinges on what you are expecting the airport to DO for you…

on the one hand, we want an airport to be efficient… so, an airport which is easy to navigate, which quickly takes you through all the steps you need to complete on your journey, is a good airport.

If you’re expecting something BEYOND that, then I guess it comes down to things like the architecture and amenities. A spacious, airy, cool airport with a good range of places to eat, relax and pass away the time is what you need. Combining the two of these together is something they rarely get right…

]]> By: Mikeachim http://mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/how-to-see-airports#comment-1140 Mikeachim Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:20:31 +0000 http://www.mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/?p=914#comment-1140 <b>Well, if you're confessing, you're in the right place. We're listening. :) So, airports as escapism? The attraction being the sheer un-normality of the situation (eg. bloody great pieces of metal flying through the air, village-sized warrens of corridors filled with people but where nobody lives, etc.). Seen like this, airports are surreal places. Or even "not-places". So they inspire a different reaction in everyone. In your case (and mine too), they're excitingly weird and colourful. Other people see that as a bit threatening and hostile - especially when they start getting packed with people and there's a sense of frustrated sweaty desperation added to the mix, which is always hard to fight. Should airports try to cash in on this outer-worldly feel by trying to attract people who want to get away from it all, sit and read a book, chill out, write letters, watch the planes? This is what happens in most cases, but airports don't actually *promote* it (as far as I've seen), it's what people do when they're waiting for something else. But airports (easily accessible ones) being marketed as the equivalent of municipal parks and libraries, ie. public space where you can hang out without feeling like you should be on the way somewhere? Is that a way to make them more neutral, less "bad"?</b> Well, if you’re confessing, you’re in the right place. We’re listening. :)

So, airports as escapism? The attraction being the sheer un-normality of the situation (eg. bloody great pieces of metal flying through the air, village-sized warrens of corridors filled with people but where nobody lives, etc.). Seen like this, airports are surreal places. Or even “not-places”.

So they inspire a different reaction in everyone. In your case (and mine too), they’re excitingly weird and colourful. Other people see that as a bit threatening and hostile – especially when they start getting packed with people and there’s a sense of frustrated sweaty desperation added to the mix, which is always hard to fight.

Should airports try to cash in on this outer-worldly feel by trying to attract people who want to get away from it all, sit and read a book, chill out, write letters, watch the planes? This is what happens in most cases, but airports don’t actually *promote* it (as far as I’ve seen), it’s what people do when they’re waiting for something else.

But airports (easily accessible ones) being marketed as the equivalent of municipal parks and libraries, ie. public space where you can hang out without feeling like you should be on the way somewhere? Is that a way to make them more neutral, less “bad”?

]]> By: Mikeachim http://mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/how-to-see-airports#comment-1139 Mikeachim Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:54:46 +0000 http://www.mikesowden.org/feveredmutterings/?p=914#comment-1139 <b>For anyone still popping in to read this thread, I have a question. And it's this: <i>What makes a bad airport?</i> (And yes, that's very vague. Intentionally.)</b> For anyone still popping in to read this thread, I have a question.

And it’s this:

What makes a bad airport?

(And yes, that’s very vague. Intentionally.)

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