Luminarium turns Victoria Park into a world of light

Portsmouth's Victoria Park is about to turn into something rather surreal. From Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September, Architects of Air are bringing their Luminarium to the park on Anglesea Road, as part of The Point Is Portsmouth, Crying Out Loud's city-wide programme celebrating Portsmouth100. It is the third of four events in that programme, and it is the kind of thing that is hard to describe without sounding a bit breathless, so it is worth walking through it yourself to see.

At its heart, the Luminarium is a maze of illuminated domes and winding passages where natural light, colour and sound come together to create an ever-changing sensory experience. The luminosity comes from daylight shining through a coloured membrane, so as the light outside shifts, the atmosphere inside evolves with it, which means no two visits are ever quite the same. The shapes are inspired by natural forms, geometric solids, and Islamic and Gothic architecture, and the company describes the result as somewhere between a womb and a cathedral, a cocoon where the outside world falls away and you are transported into a world of light. It is designed to be welcoming and accessible, including for wheelchair users and people with additional access needs, and most people spend around twenty to thirty minutes exploring, though you can move at your own pace.

Each Luminarium is hand-built in Nottingham and typically covers an area of 750 to 1,000 square metres. Architects of Air is a Nottingham-based company set up in 1992 by founder, designer and artistic director Alan Parkinson, who first started experimenting with pneumatic sculptures in the 1980s and built the company's first inflatable environment in 1986. Since then, more than three million people across more than forty countries and five continents have walked through their Luminaria, with more than thirty such structures built and over 600 exhibitions staged. A single Luminarium holds around eighty people at a time and can take up to 200 an hour, so it is a steady, manageable flow rather than a crush.

On price, it is easy on the pocket: tickets are £8, and entry is free for Portsmouth residents, essential carers and under-16s. There are SEND and quiet sessions available, which are worth checking on the booking page if you are bringing someone who would appreciate a calmer visit. One thing to note is that ticketed entry becomes walk-up only for the final hour of each day, so if you want a specific slot, it is worth booking ahead. The opening hours shift slightly each day: 12pm to 4pm on Friday 11 September, 1pm to 5pm on Saturday 12 September, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday 13 September.

The setting is half the charm. Victoria Park is a quiet green space in the heart of Portsmouth, created in 1878 for the people of the city, with a layout by Alexander McKenzie, who also did Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace Park. The fountain at its centre is part of the original landscape, and the park holds nine naval memorials linked to Portsmouth's history, alongside an aviary that has been there in one form or another since the early days. It is a gentle, family-friendly evening plan that turns a familiar local park into something you would not expect to find on your doorstep.