Infra_MANC The visionary possibilities of landing scheduled passenger-carry helicopters onto train stations to provide highly integrated transports nodes still seems like an impossible dream, although train travellers at Manchester Victoria are being promised a dramatic new roof as part of long overdue £20 million upgrade to the station facilities58 [Fig.1.028]. The lightweight curved shell form lined with a pressurised polymer, known as ETFE, certainly would not be amenable to safe helicopter landings! Regardless of any future proposals much of the space that would have handled helicopters is now occupied by the MEN Arena [originally named the NYNEX Arena after the American telecoms firm that sponsored it], hosting pop stars and stand-up comedians, rather than Sycamores and Sikorsky’s.
RIGHT. Fig.1.028. Digital architectural renders of the planned new roof for Manchester Victoria train station. Design by BDP architects, 2011. [Courtesy of BDP]
Ch.001 | Helicopter Dreaming