Celebrating 80 years of airport history with an immersive twist
Handheld binoculars installation
To celebrate 80 years since one of the UK’s biggest airports’ first ever flight, Zubr partnered with a high profile branding agency to create an immersive historical experience that can be enjoyed within one of the world’s busiest airports.
The interactive installation invites visitors to explore airport history through a bespoke digital timeline, accessible through our handheld immersive binoculars. As with any installation deployed within a major transport hub, our VR binoculars were subject to strict operational and safety requirements, truly testing the rigor of our technology specifications.
Optimising performance within airport requirements
Creating an immersive experience within an active airport presented a unique set of challenges. Any solution needed to be intuitive for first-time users, safe within a high-footfall environment, and fully compliant with airport operational requirements. The core idea was to create a “window” into a layered past, with interactive historical content which allows passengers and airport visitors to explore the airport’s evolution through time. However, it was crucial that the experience remained fully mobile, to avoid creating any obstructions in the busy terminal environment.
Our handheld VR binoculars provided the ideal solution, combining immersive storytelling with a lightweight, intuitive interface. Unlike traditional VR headsets, they eliminated the need for visitors to wear enclosed hardware, making the experience more accessible and better suited to a busy public space. Users could simply raise the device to their eyes to access the digital content; this meant they remained aware of their surroundings, interactions felt natural and intuitive, and there was no need for fitting, adjustment or onboarding.
Seven eras unveiled
At the centre of the experience was an interactive timeline showcasing seven key eras in the airport’s history, spanning from 1946 to 2008, with a bonus forward-looking vision of the future.
Each era combined archival imagery, video, audio and written content to tell the story of the airport’s evolution. Rather than presenting this information in a traditional chronological format, the experience encouraged visitors to actively explore. Users could select each era using physical button controls. To make the experience feel more natural, the installation incorporated gaze-based interactions that responded to where users were looking. As visitors focused on particular pieces of content, images would subtly enlarge and sharpen, drawing their attention organically. We also used depth maps, animation, and parallax-based 3D layering to introduce depth and subtle motion within the archival imagery.
Taking careful consideration of the airport’s recognisable visual brand identity, we developed the user interface in line with their brand guidelines. Where possible, we implemented existing branding whilst adopting accessible fonts to maintain clarity and accessibility across the historical content. This ensured the experience felt immediately at home within the airport environment.
In summary
This 80th anniversary airport installation demonstrates how immersive storytelling can be successfully delivered in highly regulated public environments. Zubr’s handheld binoculars transformed historical records and archived materials into an experience that visitors could actively explore rather than simply observe.
The result was an engaging and accessible installation, celebrating eight decades of aviation history, all the while showcasing the potential of our lightweight immersive hardware experiences in high-footfall locations where traditional headsets remain impractical.