A new interactive light installation enables visitors to move through a complex system of glowing pathways and large vaulted spaces.
This multi-sensory piece, named Terceradix, will open to visitors at Harwell Campus for a brief five-day window running from May 29 through June 2.
The event forms part of the campus Light Project and marks its 80th anniversary celebrations.
Rebecca Duvall, head of community at Harwell Campus, said the team was delighted to welcome Luminarium to Harwell as part of the 80th birthday programme. She noted that light has been central to the campus since its foundation in scientific research, making this installation an appropriate and uplifting tribute to both its history and future direction. She added that this represented a genuinely unique chance for people of all ages to engage with light and colour in a fully immersive way, giving families the opportunity to explore, discover and experience something remarkable during the May half-term holiday.
The piece comprises an inflatable, walkable structure created by Architects of Air. It uses natural sunlight filtering through translucent material to generate a constantly shifting sensory atmosphere of colour and illumination. Visitors are encouraged to wander freely, navigating a network of illuminated rooms and corridors. The creation seeks to encourage exploration, reflection and wonder. Most guests spend between 20 and 30 minutes inside the luminarium, with many choosing to remain longer to fully absorb its peaceful environment.
Located near Curie Avenue alongside DiSH Food Market, the luminarium offers full accessibility. The campus will also provide dining options. Tickets remain unavailable at present but will be released shortly through the Harwell Campus online platform.
The luminarium represents the latest addition to events marking the second year of Harwell’s 80th anniversary festivities. Previous programming has included the Museum of the Moon, BODY, outdoor film screenings, lectures and collaborative projects.
The campus has anchored its anniversary celebrations around the theme of light, recognising the crucial role it has played in scientific advancement at Harwell. Facilities including the Central Laser Facility, the Extreme Photonics Applications Centre, and Diamond Light Source’s pioneering X-ray crystallography all depend on sophisticated light technology. The Rosalind Franklin Institute’s breakthroughs in microscopy also contribute to this heritage. Light has been described as fundamental to the campus’s purpose and continues to inspire fresh research and development. The luminarium offers the public an opportunity to engage with these concepts through a sensory and participatory artistic encounter.
Further details and ticket announcements will become available shortly on the Harwell Campus website.