About
Since 1992 Architects of Air, a Nottingham based company, has built 30+ luminaria, made over 600 exhibitions, and toured in 40+ countries where over 3 million visitors have immersed themselves in the luminous world of Architects of Air.
From small beginnings...
In 1982 Alan Parkinson was employed as the project supervisor, initially for a half day a week, simply to drive the minibus and to oversee the offenders while they ensured the children’s safe play. Over the next four years, the project expanded into a full-time role. In 1986 we built our first inflatable environment – what would later be known as a “Luminarium.”
Two years later, the charity was forced to close and Alan chose to take Eggopolis forward, earning a living as a solo ‘Architect of Air’. Six years later, with a 28-city tour in Germany requiring the formation of a limited company, ‘Architects of Air’ was officially established as a legal entity.
Architects of Air’s origin was in a Nottingham UK charitable project designed to offer inflatable play experiences to inner-city children’s projects. The work of creation and delivery was by offenders performing community service as their punishment.
While visually captivating, the early Luminaria weren’t ideal for physical play. To better engage visitors in the sensory experience, we began collaborating with theatre and dance companies. A 3-way collaboration with a theatre group and a centre for adults with special needs led to the building of ‘Eggopolis’ as a promenade performance space for mixed-ability actors that toured the UK in 1990.
...to a Company
To deliver each event, Architects of Air relies on a trusted pool of freelance Luminarium Managers, some of whom have been part of our journey for over 25 years. These experienced professionals are on site for the entire duration of an exhibition, ensuring the Luminarium operates safely and that visitors, hosts, and local staff enjoy the optimum Luminarium experience.
Architects of Air’s ambition was never one of growth for its own sake, but as interest in the Luminaria grew, so too did the need to create more Luminaria – and with it, the need to grow a team. Today, Architects of Air is supported by six permanent staff members who oversee workshop operations, including design, construction, and maintenance. They also direct touring logistics and guide the overall management and vision of the company.
With a Mission...
Inclusivity is central to our vision. We are dedicated to making our Luminaria as accessible as possible, welcoming the widest audience to share in the experience.
We are committed to the continuous evolution of our Luminaria – refining their architectural functionality while deepening their role as vessels for the transformative power of light. To help sustain and grow this unique art form, we openly share our creative practice.
Architects of Air believes in the social value of the Luminaria. Our mission is to collaborate and co-create with host partners who are committed to enriching their communities. A successful exhibition requires a significant investment of time and resources from a presenter, and we work to ensure their investment is worthwhile.
We recognise the environmental footprint of our work and are actively working to reduce our resource consumption and operate more sustainably.
Alan Parkinson
“Having witnessed how powerfully these structures can connect with the sensibilities of people with special needs, my hope is to see Architects of Air’s Lumini Project become fully established. This vision is shared by Isabella Phoenix, who has been a key part of Architects of Air since the very beginning and remains an Architects of Air angel to this day.”
“When I enter one of our Luminaria, I’m still struck by the beauty of light and colour. As a designer, that continued sense of wonder is my motivation to keep exploring how this inflatable architecture can be made to present light in new and engaging ways.
In the media
The Luminaria are very photogenic and offer exceptional promotional potential. They are successful in attracting good media coverage. It is not unusual to have a front-page photo on a national daily. TV news reportage is common as well as occasional live broadcasts. Web coverage is now enormous with some agency photos of Luminaria achieving an incredible worldwide profile for the host event.
The Book
Published in 2013 to celebrate the 20 years of designing and touring the luminaria, The Most Beautiful charts the story of Architects of Air’s monumental ephemeral sculptures that have wowed millions of visitors around the world. Sumptuous full-colour photographs capture the wonder that the Luminaria inspire, and a comprehensive technical section guides the reader through the creation of these unique works.