The brief was simple: create an iconic, memorable McDonalds at the Airport, like nothing seen before but based on our flagship store model being rolled out globally. The design aims to embrace McDonald’s history of innovation in combining lateral thought, speed, quality and entertainment, built around their ‘industrial revolutionising’ of food production. We also wanted to be true to its location; a departure lounge to the airways that follow.

A yellow glass box housing the kitchen hovers over the service counter. Food is efficiently delivered via a conveyor that spirals towards the ground. The original kitchen was on the ground and 25m from the customer pickup point, so locating the kitchen above provides an efficient delivery method and a stunning and iconic expression for this dynamic brand; a spectacle not seen here or anywhere else before. Like a glowing beacon, it resolves visibility issues in a space that is busy, loud and visually noisy, not only expressing the McDonald’s brand but helping it to stand out amidst the visual clutter of T1.

Signage is simple and intuitive: Order and Collect. McDonald’s is ordered from one counter, McCafe from the other counter, and food and drinks are collected at the rounded corner in between.The material palette is stylish and simple: concrete, glass, stainless steel and oak.