Families and curious minds are invited to experience something truly extraordinary this May half term, as Luminarium: Terceradix arrives at Harwell Campus.

From 29 May to 2 June, this walk-through installation will form part of Light Project, the Campus’ 80th Birthday Celebrations, offering visitors a rare chance to step inside an ever-changing immersive sculpture shaped entirely by natural daylight.

Created and hand-crafted by the internationally acclaimed Architects of Air, the Luminarium is a breathtaking inflatable structure featuring tunnels, soaring domes and radiant chambers. The installation filters natural daylight through its translucent fabric, combining light and intense colour to create an ever-changing calming sensory experience.

Inside, there is no set route and no rush. Suitable for all ages, visitors are free to wander at their own pace through a maze of glowing tunnels and serene spaces, designed to encourage exploration, mindfulness and a sense of wonder.

Rebecca Duvall, Head of Community at Harwell Campus, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Luminarium to Harwell as part of our 80th birthday celebrations. Light has been central to the campus since its earliest days of scientific discovery, so this installation feels like a fitting and inspiring nod to both our heritage and our future. It’s a truly unique experience that invites people of all ages to connect with light and colour in a completely immersive way, giving families the chance to explore, discover and experience something completely different this May half term.”

Visitors typically spend between 20 and 30 minutes inside the structure, though many find themselves lingering longer, absorbed in the peaceful atmosphere.

Positioned just off Curie Avenue, next to DiSH, the Luminarium is fully accessible and inclusive for all, with plenty of opportunity to grab a bite to eat before or after, making a day of it.

Please keep an eye on the Harwell Campus website for ticket sales which go on sale soon.

Luminarium is the latest in a series of events marking the second year of celebrations for Harwell’s 80th anniversary. The campus has already hosted the Museum of the Moon, BODY, outdoor cinema screenings, talks and collaborative projects, all designed to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.

These events reflect a deeper story running through Harwell’s history. Light has been central to the campus’s mission since its earliest days of scientific discovery. From the pioneering Central Laser Facility and the cutting-edge advances at the Extreme Photonics Applications Centre, to Diamond Light Source’s revolutionary X-ray crystallography and the Rosalind Franklin Institute’s breakthrough microscopy, light has fuelled discovery on the campus for decades.