The Spitfire Wing

The concept is for a visitor attraction to regenerate the waterfront in Southampton. It combines a 'museum of the city'; a high level panoramic viewing gallery; a fashionable restaurant and bar, and a capsule ride taking people to a height a little over that of the London Eye.

The Museum is planned to contain some 4,132m2 (44,500 ft2) of display space arranged on three floors above and below a ground floor reception. It will trace the development of the city with particular reference to its marine and aerospace traditions. Thus it would include an underwater aquarium, an oceanography and diving display and features on the Pilgrim Fathers and the great ocean liners - of which the Titanic, that sailed from here and whose seamen were largely from this area, was arguably the most famous.

The galleries above would tell the story of the region's amazing aerospace heritage, the D Day landings, the Empire and Princess Flying Boats, the Schneider Trophy Seaplanes, the Black Knight rockets, the Hovercraft and of course the Spitfire, the wing shape of which is the inspiration behind the design.

The site for this at Mayflower Park on the waterside close to the city centre and a project team has been established in the city to make this happen.

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