We are proud to host the world premiere of Architects of Air's 32nd Luminarium, Myriad, for the school half term in May 2025. Nottingham families can enjoy this brand-new luminarium in Highfields Park, next to Lakeside Arts' DH Lawrence Pavilion.
Welcome to the wonderful world of light and colour! A luminarium is a hand made inflatable structure people enter to be moved to a sense of wonder and amazement. The intricate labyrinth of tunnels and domes provides a chance to experience daylight’s luminous brilliance and subtle hues. The structures are inspired by Islamic architecture and Gothic cathedrals, and visitors can walk through them to enjoy radiant colours emerging purely from daylight filtering through the luminarium’s fabric. Nottingham-based company Architects of Air have toured extensively across five continents with their extraordinary structures, which astonish and delight audiences of all ages.
Lakeside Arts will again host Architects of Air, who, for many years, have premiered their newest creations at Highfields Park. This year is no exception, and their brand new, 32nd luminarium, Myriad, will open to visitors on Saturday, 24 May 2025.
Profile drawing of Myriad by Alan Parkison
Profile drawing of Myriad by Alan Parkison
Covering an impressive 900 square metres, Myriad is currently being built at the company’s workshop in Nottingham. It will be the first luminarium to have community participation in its construction as it travels.
Myriad will feature a number of domes that will have ‘stars’—points of light that are inserted into the fabric of the dome. What distinguishes Myriad is that the work of inserting stars will take place after the structure has left the workshop, as they will be created one by one at each host of the structure. This way, the luminarium will become a subtle testimony to the significant people and places in Myriad’s touring life.
Alan Parkison, the founder and designer of Architects of Air, describes his excitement for Myriad in the following lines:
“Myriad is an adventure down a path of celestial utopian design. I'm looking forward to seeing it for the first time at Lakeside Arts and to hearing the visitors' assessment.”
Alan Parkinson’s involvement with inflatable structures began on a Nottingham community project in 1981. He designed and built his first luminarium in 1985, with the aid of offenders required to do community service as their punishment. In 1990, he created ‘Eggopolis,’ which was the first of his luminaria to be shown outside Nottinghamshire. In 1992, the community project closed down, and Architects of Air was formed. Since the establishment of Architects of Air in Nottingham in 1992, Architects of Air has toured internationally in 43 countries, from the Guggenheim in Spain to the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Alan describes his intention as an ‘Architect of Air’ in the following terms:
“What motivates me to design is the fact that I continue to be struck by the beauty of light and colour found in the luminaria. These structures nurture an awareness of a pure phenomenon that gently cuts through everyday conditioned perceptions and awakens a sense of wonder in people."
Audiences find the stimulating environment of the luminaria simultaneously calming and comforting. Enjoyed by families as well as the wider public, Lakeside Arts will again offer sessions for grown-ups only, as well as a quieter session for those who need it.
Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, 19 March, at 11 am. Subscribe to our newsletter to be among the first to hear about our full summer 2025 programme. We hope to see you there!
Audiences react to Luminarium Miracoco
Audiences react to Luminarium Miracoco
