Dome Zones

Greenwich, June 14 1999

Final designs for the attractions that will be seen by more than 12 million visitors to the Dome at Greenwich were unveiled today.

Dome organisers the New Millennium Experience Company published images of all 14 of the awe-inspiring zones that will fill the Dome, the centrepiece of the UK’s millennium celebrations.

With just 200 days to go to the opening of the Dome on 31 December 1999, NMEC confirmed that all zones are being built on time - with attractions covering every aspect of human life as we enter the next millennium.

Previously unseen zone designs in a ‘Virtual Reality Tour’ of the Dome presented by NMEC Chief Executive Jennie Page and Creative Review Group Chairman Michael Grade included:

Home Planet – the 65 metre wide zone centres on a shimmering metallic blue globe, entered through an articulated tunnel. Inside, you will be taken on an amazing journey - departing, travelling and arriving at the most incredible planet in the known universe - Earth. A globe measuring 12 metres in diameter appears to float above the ground next to the zone, reaching to a height of 22.5 metres and acting as a landmark visible from anywhere in the Dome.
Sponsored by BA and BAA, the zone offers visitors the opportunity to see the beauty of the world’s sights, sounds and natural phenomena and to experience the exhilaration of travel and discovery.

Journey - the dramatic structure of the Journey zone rises to 25 metres in a series of angled points above the raised promenade of High Way. Through the entrance below on Mast Way the visitor is taken into the journeys of the next millennium, in a series of static and interactive displays bringing to life the future of travel by land, air and sea.
Sponsored by Ford, the Journey zone includes a virtual reality trip and invites visitors to see how our desire to stay on the move can be made easier, faster and cleaner.

Self Portrait - a picture of the UK as it enters the next millennium - painted by the British themselves. Behind the moving surfaces of the zone’s circular walls, images of Britain nominated by the public come into view in a spell-binding sequence. Inside the 40-metre diameter structure, work by sculptor and collage creator David Mach and cartoonist Gerald Scarfe surround the visitor with views of what it means to be British.
Sponsored by Marks & Spencer, Self Portrait highlights the parts of our national make-up that the British want to take into the next millennium and lets us hear the voices of the 21st century generation.

Money - the glowing architecture of the zone’s golden exterior draws visitors into a dramatic demonstration of how money makes the world go round. Money is changing - and so is the way it is used. Come to the Money zone to explore the global revolution in finance that affects us all. Play at being a tycoon in a new, specially-developed interactive game - seeing how your own financial decisions affect the economy at home and abroad. React to the news as it happens today - and might unfold tomorrow. See how electronic cash is taking over - and what this could mean for your mortgage, savings and pension. The Money zone lifts the lid on the real world of the financial services industry. 
With sponsorship made possible by the Corporation of London and a consortium of financial services industry institutions, the Money zone brings to life the way money affects everything we do.

New designs for the Rest and Play zones were also announced, providing structures housing attractions where visitors will be invited to actively unwind using state of the art sound, light and games technology.

The graceful canopy for the McDonald’s Our Town Story Theatre was unveiled for the first time, with a tented structure providing a carnival atmosphere for the performances inside. This 500-seat auditorium inside the Dome will be the venue for more than 200 shows from towns and cities throughout the UK during 2000. Almost every local authority in the UK (205 out of 207 so far) has now signed up to Our Town Story, which gives communities in every corner of the country the chance to have their own day in the Dome.

NMEC also published the final floor plan for the Dome with a colourful bird’s eye view map showing the location of each attraction and the shopping, refreshment and public information areas available to visitors.

Previously announced zone designs confirmed at today’s event were the Body (sponsored by Boots The Chemists with L’Oreal and Roche); Mind (sponsored by British Aerospace and GEC); Talk (sponsored by BT); Work (sponsored by Manpower); Learning (sponsored by Tesco); Faith (supported by donations from trusts linked to Christianity and the Vedic tradition); Shared Ground (sponsored by Camelot) and Living Island.

The design was also confirmed for Skyscape (sponsored by Sky), the cinema and entertainment venue now nearing completion outside the Dome. It was announced that the special Blackadder comedy film to be shown in Skyscape had started filming at Shepperton Studios today.

Welcoming today’s announcements, Lord Falconer, Government Minister responsible for the Dome, commented:
"It is less than two years since construction work started on this site and to have come so far in such a short time and to have kept progress to time and to budget is an outstanding achievement in itself. These designs show that the Dome will have something to amaze and educate everyone who visits it and that the attractions waiting for them are quite simply out of this world."

Jennie Page, NMEC Chief Executive, said:  "The zone designs and names confirmed today show that our visitors will be able to enjoy an incredible variety of high quality attractions that will become the centre of attention for millennium celebrations
throughout the world. The Dome will bring to life the possibilities of the next millennium with an irresistible, exciting, ambitious and unforgettable day out."

Bob Ayling, British Airways Chief Executive (and NMEC Chairman) said: "There’s no place like home, and our Home Planet zone will literally be out of this world. It is another example of British creativity and innovation at its best. It complements the other 13 zones in the Dome which together offer a truly fantastic experience."

Sir John Egan, Chief Executive of BAA, said: "The 21st century will be the time when travel will become possible for everyone. Home Planet will make people aware of the experiences open to them as we enter the next millennium."

Sir Ian McAllister, Chairman and Managing Director, Ford of Britain, sponsoring Journey, commented: "The Journey zone will feature thought-provoking static and exciting interactive displays, including a virtual reality simulation, to illustrate the development of transport systems from prehistoric times to the current day, and on into the future."

Peter Salsbury, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer, said: "From our earliest discussions with NMEC, we viewed Self Portrait as the perfect match for Marks & Spencer. We touch the lives of most people across the country and in this zone we will have the opportunity to share their views of life in the UK. Along with Children's Promise, Self Portrait has the potential to involve us all in marking the millennium in a very special and personal way."

Lord Levene, Lord Mayor of the City of London, commenting on the Money zone, said: "The City of London is a great British success story - it is only fitting we should be part of another huge British success. The zone will be an incredible exploration of the way money works and how it affects all our lives."

Further announcements about exciting features of the different zones will be made in the coming months, running up to the day tickets go on public sale on 22 September and in advance of the Dome Opening Ceremony on 31 December.

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