A Week At The Airport：A Heathrow Diary

Inthesummerof2009,AlaindeBottonwillbeinvitedbytheownersofHeathrowairporttobecometheirfirsteverWriterinResidence.HewillbeinstalledinthemiddleofTerminal5onaraisedplatformwithalaptopconnectedtoscreens,enablingpassengerstoseewhatheiswritingandtocomeandsharetheirstories.Hewillmeettravellersfromaroundtheworld,andwillbegivenunprecedentedaccesstowandertheairportandspeakwitheveryonefromwindowcleanersandbaggagehandlerstoairtrafficcontrollersandcabincrew.WorkingwiththerenowneddocumentaryphotographerRichardBaker,deBottonwillproduceanextraordinarymeditationuponthenatureofplace,time,andourdailylives.Hewillexplorethemagicalandthemundane,personalandcollectiveexperiencesandtheinteractionsoftravellersandworkersalloverthisfamiliarbutmysterioussite.Likeallairports,Heathrow(the15thcenturyvillageofHeathRowliesbeneaththeshortstaycarpark)isa'non-place'thatwebydefinitionwanttoleave,butitalsoprovidesawindowintomanyworlds-throughthethousandsofpeopleitdispatcheseveryday.AWeekattheAirportissuretodelightdeBotton'slargefollowing,andanyoneinterestedinthestoriesbehindthewaywelive.