RGB lighting

Peru National Football Stadium

2011-11-08T14:36:00.001+01:00

Cinimod Studio have delivered an innovative interactive lighting control system for the Peru National Stadium in Lima. Tapping into the collective mood of the crowd, lighting is used to establish a visual connection between the fans, their passion, and the game.

Working as part of an international design and delivery team including CAM and ArquiLEDS in Peru, e:cue in Germany, and Traxon in Hong Kong, Cinimod Studio created a cutting-edge mood analysis system to control the stadium façade lighting.

Using a combination of innovative technologies and lighting layouts, the façade of the stadium has been infused with a mixture of lights that allow the façade to act as a "mirror" of the crowd’s mood. In what is probably now the largest crowd controlled interactive lighting display in the world, the stadium is able to communicate the ebb and flow of excitement and disappointment to the surrounding city, thus becoming a watched spectacle in itself.

A network of customised sound level metres was deployed along the roof line of the stadium to create a dynamic map of the crowd’s noise levels. This data was then processed by Cinimod’s processing hardware and software located in the main communications room of the stadium.

Cinimod software developed specifically for the project processed the sound level data in real-time, performing a series of comparative mathematical calculations and analysis by self-calibrating algorithms. The output from the software is a "mood state" that summarizes the collective mood of the crowd.

The lighting patterns have been carefully designed to faithfully depict the moods. The patterns vary in colour, speed, brightness and scale — at times the façade can be seen to sparkle with obvious joy and celebration, other times it recoils into a subdued and disappointed state. In these variations the mood of the crowd is clearly visualised for the outside city to see and share.

Further technical details

Lighting Output

The external lighting scheme is designed to integrate seamlessly within the architectural framework, while providing the required media façade framework to display lighting patterns that depict the mood the crowd within the stadium. Working with the design of the new façade, the majority of the lights are laid out in dramatic fans of "flames" that wrap upwards around the bulbous form of the structure.

The scale of the stadium façade necessitated a very large array of colour and pixel addressable fittings. The fittings are all from Traxon Technologies, who specialise in high quality architectural LED lights. Their overall installation is linked to an e:cue architectural lighting controller that provides the required 62 universes of DMX lighting control output.

The overall façade lighting control system is comprised of 2 main components: Cinimod’s interactive mood analysis system and the E:cue lighting control system. These two components work in tandem to deliver an ever-evolving and responsive lighting display on the façade.

Technical Details of Interactive System

As is common to many Cinimod projects, the challenge was to develop a bespoke and reliable solution that would faithfully deliver Cinimod’s ambitious scheme for an interactive lighting control system. Utilising a transfer of technologies from related industries, Cinimod created a cutting-edge mood analysis system for the Stadium project.

Crowd Noise Level Mapping

A network of customised sound level metres was deployed along the roof line of the stadium to create a dynamic map of the crowd’s noise levels. This data was then processed by Cinimod’s processing hardware and software located in the main communications room of the stadium.

Mood Analysis

Cinimod software developed specifically for the project processed the sound level data in real-time, performing a series of comparative mathematical calculations and analysis by self-calibrating algorithms. The output from the software is a "mood state" that summarizes the collective mood of the crowd.

The 4 states defined states are:

Boring: The crowd has a neutral attitude to the game, indicating the lack of any particularly good game play.
Excitement: Detected by a surge in crowd noise levels, the crowd is determined to be excited by events on the pitch.
Celebration: The celebration mood would normally be triggered by a goal, and is detected by further rise within the ‘exciting’ state followed by a sustained level of constant high-level noise.
Disappointment: If the noise levels of the ‘exciting’ state reach a peak followed by a rapid decline in levels, then the software is likely to detect a disappointed crowd.

Output

The mood analysis software runs perpetually, constantly evaluating the mood. It communicates the determined mood state to the e:cue lighting controller which then sends the relevant DMX control signal to all the light fixtures.

The lighting patterns have been carefully designed to faithfully depict the moods. The patterns vary in colour, speed, brightness and scale — at times the façade can be seen to sparkle with obvious joy and celebration, other times it recoils into a subdued and disappointed state. In these variations the mood of the crowd is clearly visualised for the outside city to see and share.

Team

The lighting of the stadium was the result of teamwork from design and production offices across South America, Europe and Asia.

Concept and lighting design:
Claudia Paz, CAM (Concept)
Dominic Harris & Nick Cheung from CINIMOD STUDIO (Interactive Control System)
David Castañeda, TRAXON (Design Development)
Luke Hall (Stage Lighting)

Programmers:
Andrea Cuius, CINIMOD STUDIO
Christian Brink, E:CUE
Rafael Baggioni, TRAXON
Cesar Castro, ARQUILEDS

Companies:
CAM (Lighting design & Installation)
ARQUILEDS (Distributor and Project Management)
CINIMOD STUDIO (Interactive Control System)
TRAXON (Fixtures)
E:CUE (Lighting Software)

The light on the creative process

2011-11-08T11:41:00.000+01:00

The documentary Light in the creative process has been featured in the exhibition Spain Alight in the framework of the Tokyo Designer's Week held from 1 to 6 November, and designed and curated by the Stone Designs studio based in Madrid in which show a careful representation of the best Spanish design in recent years.

This documentary is a reflection about the influence of light in the process of creation of the Spanish creatives. Light is the basic element and the starting point from which projects, pieces of work and products arise, characterizing Spain and its way of living. Three relevant figures of the Spanish industrial and artistic world have been interviewed:

Antonio Jiménez Torrecillas: Architect; Spanish National Prize of Architecture and International Prize of Architecture in Pietra, Verona, amongst others.
Daniel Canogar: Artist; he has exhibited in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS Madrid) and New York Natural Science Museum, amongst others.
Joan Gaspar:Industrial designer; awarded with a Silver Delta, amongst others.

The cities where the documentary was filmed are three emblematic scenarios of the Spanish geography: Barcelona, Granada and Madrid. Unique moments where light is the true main character of the story have been captured in each one of these places.

Director: Jorge Cosmen
Original idea: Mateo García, Cutu Mazuelos, Eva Prego

Via lightecture

New Angles

2010-09-29T14:25:00.000+02:00

New Angles is an interactive light installation by shanghai-based design studio, super nature
The hexagonal object features a crystallized surface which flickers and blinks in a multitude of colours.
Each faceted angle acts in a manner similar to a giant pixel, holistically displaying an image or effect by coordinating their light patterns.

The installation aims to create a visual dialogue with the viewer, at times mimicking and reflecting the actions of those in front with a ghostly but vibrantly coloured silhouette. it plays with the elements of imagination and reality by juxtaposing the act of subversive thinking with visual perception.

click here to see a video of New Angles in action.

Making of the installation and wiring of the installation's light system:

Via Design Boom

Paysages en exil

2010-09-07T11:28:00.001+02:00

PAYSAGES EN EXIL by Nicolas Dorval-Bory & Raphaël Bétillon seeks to create, along the hospital of La Grave in Toulouse, an experimental journey in which the visitor is invited to explore an unlikely landscape, a condensation of climates, a mix of Natures from all over the world. The project finds its genesis in the description of “wandering plants phenomenon” made by Gilles Clément:

“Plants travel. Grass mostly. They silently move in the way of the winds. Nothing can stop the wind. By harvesting clouds, one would be surprised to get imponderable seeds mixed with loess, fertile dusts. In the sky yet unforeseeable landscapes are being designed. Chance organizes the details, uses every possible vehicle to distribute the species. Everything suits the transport, from ocean currents to shoe soles. Most of the trip belongs to animals. Nature charters birds, berry eaters, gardening ants, subversive and quiet sheeps, which fleece holds fields and fields of seeds. And also man. Restless animal, always in the move, free swapper of diversity.”

In an acclimatization space – a long agricultural greenhouse – are prepared medicinal plants seedlings coming from the five continents. Having “blindly” chosen one of them, the visitor continues its journey and enters a thick cloud, a dense mist born from the spraying of the Garonne river, on the Viguerie footbridge. At the end of this vaporous trail, a surprising garden welcomes him, inviting him to plant the seedling that he has carried so far.

Credits:
Installation built for the event Imaginez maintenant

Architects: Nicolas Dorval-Bory & Raphaël Bétillon
Assistant: Paula Gonzalez Balcarce
Lighting: Mairie de Toulouse + SG2B Montauban
Fog system: Dutrie
Greenhouse: PCEB Carcassone
Metal wiring structure: VERTEO
Additional electrical wiring: INEO Souillac
AWith the help of: ACB Banque Populaire

Empire State Building lights up for Spain's World Cup win

2010-07-12T17:26:00.000+02:00

It was a last-minute surprise, but the Empire State Building tonight is lit up red and yellow for Spain’s World Cup victory, a spokeswoman for the skyscraper’s management company confirmed to NewYorkology via e-mail tonight.

The official lighting schedule still lists the colors as purple, pink and yellow, which was the color scheme intended Friday through Sunday for Broadway Barks Cat and Dog Adopt-a-Thon.

Earlier in the evening, Sean Kennedy on Twitter noted a delay in the lighting.

Update as of July 12 at 7:30 a.m.: The Empire State Building will light up red, yellow and red for a second night tonight in honor of the World Cup winners, a spokeswoman for the building’s management company said in an e-mail to NewYorkology. The online lighting schedule has also been updated to include last night’s change.

Via NewYorkology
Photo credits: christiNYCa

Light Symphony

2010-06-26T12:20:00.000+02:00

Light Symphony by Cinimod Studio is a large interactive artwork commissioned by Sobranie London, and is suspended in the central atrium space of The European, the most prestigious shopping centre in Moscow, Russia.

While traditional chandeliers are static objects, the Light Symphony is designed to engage with the public and become an active and animated elements within the space. It is comprised of 240 light tubes suspended in space to create a falling volume of red, gold and white light. The overall height is 15 metres, and the scale of the piece feels both natural and appropriate to the cavernous atrium where it is located.

The real magic comes from when members of the public become the ‘conductors’ of the Light Symphony. Standing at a special plinth that is reminiscent of an artist’s easel, the user can orchestrate complex colour movements throughout the Light Symphony by using his hands and arms across a highly innovative LED touch panel. The response is immediate, and the effect clear, fluid and rewarding.

Interview with Dominic Harris about the Light Symphony. First part of the video clip is in English, the second part is mostly Russian:

Light Symphony was produced in the UK and installed with the assistance of a local production company. All elements were designed and fabricated bespoke for the project, and a 4-strong Cinimod team were on site for 10 days.

Cinimod Studio’s approach to the project serves as another example of the design teams ambition to deliver projects of beauty and innovative design where the focus on in which the highly complex and technical electronics and control systems are presented in a highly intuitive and natural manner.

Credits
Location: The European Shopping Mall, Moscow, Russia.
Client: Sobranie London, Moscow.
Overall Design, including lighting, mechanical and interaction design: Cinimod Studio
Electrical Design: White Wing Logic (London)
On-Site Production team and coordination: Zeppelin Productions (Moscow)

Barranco de Santos road

2010-06-21T20:44:00.001+02:00

Palerm & Tabares de Nava architects with MCI Group and LEDsCONTROL, developed the LED lighting system for the road Barranco de Santos in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Island).

This project involved the illumination with LED technology of the interior parts of the walls of the roads, which lead from the city center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to the beach front. There was no need to have street lamps all along the road.

The R&D staff of MCI Group proposed to use a LED fixture to be placed inside 536 galvanized iron fences which measured 292cm long, 76cm high and 20cm thick. These galvanized iron fences run along the approximately 3km long road, they form the boundary between the vehicle traffic side and the pedestrian traffic side.
On the vehicle traffic side, the LED fixture in white colour served the function of guidance and safety for the vehicles. On the pedestrian traffic side, the LED fixture in colour changing RGB served as decorative lighting for the pedestrian walkway.

In order to ensure reliable data signal transmission along the whole 3 kilometer road length, the MCI's staff utilized special fiber optics lines which are ten times faster than the normal Belden cables, these cables work in conjunction with our CPU with DMX512A protocol installed inside the IP rated box.
Furthermore, special electronic designs were used inside the PCB board of both LED fixtures, the models LedFloodStrip White (80 LEDs/m) and LedFloodStrip RGB (90 LEDs/m).

Vehicle traffic side:
4 tubes of 134cm LedFloodStrip with 105 White Super Flux LEDs with aluminum cable channels.
Pedestrian traffic side:
2 tubes of 134cm LedFloodStrip with 120 FULL COLOUR RGB LEDs.

In order to fix the LED fixture securely into the galvanized iron walls, special end caps had to be constructed with precise laser cutting, and with special anchors for easy mounting.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

536 fences
2.144 LedFloodStrip of 134 cm in white
56.280 White LEDs
Total consumption of white LED fixtures: 23,584 W

1.072 Ledfloodstrips of 134 cm in RGB
64.320 RGB LEDs
Total consumption of RGB LED fixtures: 33,96 kW

A total of 120.600 LEDs
Total consumption: 57,544 W

MondoArc #55

2010-06-19T11:55:00.000+02:00

MondoArc Issue 55 June/July 2010 - The international magazine for Architectural, Retail and Commercial Lighting.

MondoArc makes use of stunning photography and in-depth reports on the ever expanding architectural, retail and commercial lighting markets. Articles feature some of the most exciting projects and installations from around the world including urban regeneration, branded retail outlets and malls, cultural centres, healthcare and educational facilities, office space and corporate buildings. Interviews with leading international lighting designers are included in each issue.

Lutron | New Website

2010-06-05T19:41:00.001+02:00

After more than one year in the making, lighting control manufacturer Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., has unveiled its new website – www.lutron.com – which features a completely new infrastructure, search capabilities and customizable user experiences.

Stacey Kim, director of the company’s web initiative, said that the new site was truly designed by and for Lutron customers. "With more than 2,000 customer interviews under out belts, we know exactly what type of information they want and how they want to see it."

The site was designed with more than 25 different user groups in mind, ranging from homeowners and interior designers, to builders, electrical contractors, lighting designers and facility managers.

"The experience will be unique for everyone," said Kim, "whether you’re a newcomer searching Lutron.com for the first time or a 10-year ‘super user.’"

Features of the redesigned website include:

a completely redesigned site architecture and navigation
a polished, new look and feel
a simplified where-to-buy process
consolidated technical documents, including spec sheets and installation instructions
an improved energy savings calculator
a new LED product selection tool
an inspirational home tour on how to use Lutron products in the home and
a content rich press room

"With the new site, you are never more than a click away from finding products, buying them online, or finding an appropriate reseller," said Kim.

Phase II of the site will be launched within the year, expanding the site to further support Lutron’s global markets as well as provide an enhanced, customized experience for a variety of customers.

Parc de l'Orangerie

2010-05-25T20:27:00.000+02:00

During The European Landscape Meeting (AEP) to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg (from October 26th to 28th 2009), the Park of the Orangery appeared under a new light thanks to a night development of 10 remarkable sites. This setting in light was born from a strong partnership between the lighting designer Jean-Yves SOËTINCK (L'Acte Lumière), company CITEOS and PHILIPS Lighting.

The authorities of the town of Strasbourg benefitted from this opportunity to launch a "public dialog" during Ten nights, relating to the setting in perennial light of this park.
The Tens Solutions of Philips Lighting: 260 luminaries, mainly of the dynamic solutions of lighting LED (RGB) - little énergivores, perfectly integrated in the environment and respectful of fauna and the flora - on sites like the Island with the Swans, the alley of the Plane trees, the House of the Orangery, the Hedge, the adventure playground of the children...

The installation of these 260 lighting equipments required 7 km of cables, 8 days of implementation 24:00 /24 with the assistance effective of teams CITEOS and the personnel of the green areas of the town of Strasbourg. The gardens and green areas are too often still remote regions in the cities.

The ten tables proposed for the "public dialog", presented the two solutions of setting in light proposed by the Agency L'Acte Lumière within the framework of the total renovation project of the lighting of the Park (government contract gained in 2008).

A first solution in white light, firstly out of metal Halide, accompanying the evolution by the natural colors during the seasons.
or a coloured Scenario, prolonging the romantic and majesteux character park in the middle of the night. The coloured contrasts, the game with a pallet of nuances in smoothness, makes it possible this to magnify space while limiting the consumption, but by facilitating largely management.

Credit photos: Xavier Boymond

ENVISION: Step into the sensory box

2010-05-22T17:49:00.001+02:00

ENVISION: Step into the sensory box. Under this name hides the immersive experience offered by ALCATEL-LUCENT to his customers during the Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona.
An experience with video mapping conceived by the SUPERBIEN agency together with the New Media division from Auditoire Event Agency. Customers were invited to enter into a 3m x 3m square room and to discover an artistic vision of the tagline of the event: Transforming the mobile experience.

Germany versus the Compact Fluorescent

2010-05-20T18:17:00.003+02:00

It seems that pressure is building in Germany to reverse the ban o the incandescent lamp. Hot on the heels of a recent statement against the CFL and in favour of incandescent lamps by a group of noted artists comes an article critically testing and assessing the CFLi on the market.

How environment friendly are energy-saving lamps?

Ergonomic, a research institute that focuses on the ergonomics of the workplace as well as social ergonomics has undertaken a study entitled “How environment friendly are energy-saving lamps?” as a response to the EU Parliament’s decision to phase out incandescent lamps.

The study begins by taking a look at the eco-balance of energy-saving lamps and stating how superficially and badly decision-makers (politicians) on the issue are informed. It then goes deeper into the energy actually consumed by energy-saving lamps to generate light, explaining the physics of how energy is transformed into light and the fact that transformers and ballasts also play a role in the cumulative energy balance. The efficiency of compact fluorescent lamps depends largely on how they are used – and the ambient temperature.
The author then criticizes the way luminous flux and luminous efficacy are measured.

The next main section of the study is dedicated to the quality of light generated by energy-saving lamps. The author addresses spectral composition and colour rendering properties. One diagram shows the dramatic difference between the solar spectrum and that of a typical so-called energy-saving lamp. One key point the author makes is that the political decision to phase out the incandescent lamp is blatantly ignoring the most important job artificial light has to do: to render colours correctly. He also touches on the role of gloss and sparkle within our visual environment, and points out how detrimental simply substituting compact fluorescent lamps for incandescent light sources is for our visual perception of the world around us and elements within it. Example images show a jeweller’s shop in Istanbul and a restaurant in a luxury hotel looking bland, unwelcoming and uninteresting.

Poorer quality compact fluorescent lamps are more likely to give rise to problems with flicker. Lamp life is a foggy issue. Related to frequent switching and the environment in which the lamp is applied, luminous efficacy can decrease substantially after the first 1000 hours. The lamp industry tells a more positive story, the layperson not being able to evaluate or differentiate between the data provided.

The author draws our attention to the energy involved in actually manufacturing the lamps, information which was not considered – or blatantly ignored – by the EU commission. The issue with mercury and how to deal with dead lamps is dealt with in detail and reflects deep concern – as does the whole topic of electro-magnetic fields and their incalculable impact on human health. This has been studied by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, who are unable to give a green light for all makes of compact fluorescent lamp and require further investigation to be made into UV radiation in particular.

The study continues by referring to the effect of light on human health and the relevance of the discovery of the third receptor in the eye in 2002. Politicians and other ‘experts’ who are not aware of or informed about this, are not in a position to make decisions regarding which light sources are most suitable for human beings of different ages.

The author closes with some comments on the world ban on mercury and the conflict with energy-saving lamps, which also contain lead, antimony, barium, arsenic, yttrium, phosphorous compounds, zinc and beryllium silicates, cadmium bromide, vanadium compounds, thorium, etc., which are hardly ever mentioned – apart from the fact that a large part of the lamps is not recyclable.
The study refers to the tables of data on compact fluorescent lamps on the market compiled by “Stiftung Warentest” and concludes that the phasing-out of the incandescent lamp was decided by a political commission without sufficient ecological appraisal of the alternative.

www.ergonomic.de
www.ergonomic-institute.eu

Full illustrated article in German PDF

Via PLDA Greenpages
Autor Kevan Shaw

Speed of Light

2010-04-24T12:04:00.005+02:00

United Visual Artists (UVA) has been commissioned by Virgin Media to create an immersive light installation on London's South Bank to mark the tenth anniversary of broadband in the UK. 'Speed of Light' is a series of installations that explore the themes of communication and modernity. Stripped back to its materials, fibre optic is a thin strand of glass, with nothing more than a flickering beam of light. UVA have used this beam as the starting point for their work. The installations dramatize the experience of using fibre-optic communication, re-imagining it as an immersive environment.

The story begins with an input from the audience, which is transferred into a pathway of light, leading through the atmospheric environment of the Bargehouse. The continuous line of light evolves through each installation in turn shifting in intensity and form. 'Speed of Light' uses over 148 lasers across four floors and six rooms of the Bargehouse, a raw and industrial warehouse on the South Bank.

More videos on Vimeo and Youtube:
Speed of Light - Making of Documentary Part 1
Speed of Light - Making of Documentary Part 2
Speed of Light - Making of Documentary Part 3
Speed of Light - video diary #1
Speed of Light - video diary #2
Speed of Light - video diary #3
The complete gallery of 'Speed of Light' on Flickr

Luminale 2010 Photo Gallery

2010-04-19T17:48:00.000+02:00

Oliver Blum Film + Photography has sent us two photos of reportage that has made of Luminale 2010.
You can see the full fantastic gallery in www.luminapolis-fotografie.de. Enjoy! ;)

Bwind Light Masks

2010-04-18T21:29:00.000+02:00

Bwind Light Masks is an outdoor installation by Richi Ferrero with true African masks, LED lights, acoustic system, Tuva bi-vocal.

Forty identical masks, from an area ar the border between Congo and Uganda, as small stones are placed in random order, in the open area of the Archaeological Museum in Frankfurt. Daylight gives the essence of representation, a state of waiting. The ritual will come to life when the artificial light will chang,e in the dark, the colours of the masks, giving life to a dance strongly supported by the bi-vocal sounds of Tuva singers.

Artist: Richi Ferrero
Technical sponsor: ILTI Luce
Via LUCES Light Art from italy

Puls der Stadt

2010-04-17T20:49:00.002+02:00

The light installation Puls der Stadt by BlueMars illuminates the pulse of Frankfurt, fed by data sources from all over the city: e.g., airport traffic, weather data or stock exchange transactions.
Thus people watching the interactive installation can feel the city life from quite a different point of view.

Puls der Stadt was part of Luminale 2010

It contains:
8704 LEDs
39304 soldering points
770 metres of brass rods
560 metres of cable
19 microcontrollers
620 metres of wire

Light+Building 2010 Philips News

2010-04-13T20:51:00.002+02:00

The news of Philips Lighting at Light+Building 2010.
A guided Tour at the Philips Stand:

What means URBAN SCREENS?

2010-04-09T18:30:00.001+02:00

¿Qué son las Pantallas Urbanas?

Christian Saucedo de nait5 inaugura una nueva sección en su fantástico blog, se trata de dictionary, un espacio en el que se recopilarán una serie de keywords con el propósito de complementar el concepto general de las urban screens. Este trabajo conformado por variados puntos de vista en los que se involucra la participación de actores inmersos a este concepto (artistas visuales, programadores, teóricos, arquitectos, diseñadores, etc.) prevé complementar en gran medida el entendimiento al trabajo, desarrollo y proyección de los cuatro conceptos fundamentales que dan forma a la urban screens.

MondoArc #54

2010-04-09T12:26:00.000+02:00

Número 54 de la revista electrónica MondoArc.

MondoArc - The international magazine for Architectural, Retail and Commercial Lighting

Sound Club Phuket

2010-04-06T18:59:00.003+02:00

The Inverse Lighting Design studio based in London has sent us pictures of his latest project, Sound Club, Phuket (Thailand). The project, recently awarded with the coveted Lighting Design Award 2010 in the International Projects category, in my opinion is really great and since the blog I give my most sincere congratulations.

Bstieler Bernhard, director of Inverse Lighting Design, also awarded as Lighting Designer of the Year, was described by the judges as “an emerging talent” in lighting design, commended for his “inventiveness” and diverse range of schemes. “Regardless of the budget, Bernhard Bstieler exhibits great attention to detail, while understanding balance and composition”.

Design Concept / Challenge / outstanding design
Seamless integration of music, light and space is the main concept for SOUND, an upscale night club in Phuket. The interior space employs curved lines and organic forms, inspired by the ear which enables us to perceive sound. The integration of
light that responses to the rhythm and pitch of music, in turn, manipulates perception of space and the way spatial and conceptual boundaries are experienced. These features can be found in the corridor and the pods. Lighting along the perimeter walls in contrasting colour of amber and blue defines different
areas in the club.
The main challenge lies in the design of architectural lighting that reveals spatial quality of the organic forms and, at the same time, responds to the changing mood of the music. Moreover, the club regularly holds creative events as well as invites local and international artists to perform. The lighting therefore has to be flexible and easy to operate for the LJ and VJ. This requires close attention to lighting details and modification of lighting fixtures and control systems for easy operation.

Unique features
The corridor is a tunnel-like space with concealed lighting in vertical slots along its length. While the visitor walking toward the main dance floor, the changing intensity and movement of light creates perception that the spatial boundary is animated. It appears as if the space was breathing and the sound wave is coming toward them. This is achieved by using individually addressable 70mm sections of blue LED, each of which acts like a pixel. There are approximately 1,500 channels linked to 3 DMX universe controller. Different effects are also set up and can be
manually adjusted to give the LJ and VJ flexibility to enhance the atmosphere depending on the theme of music.
Seating pods have concealed lights along the base which make tthem appear floating off the ground. Glowing linear neon light outline the curved steps and continuous blue LEDs glow to the inside reveal the form and shape of the seats. Subtle glow of the acrylic screen at the top outlines the ‘ear’ shape of the seating.
A narrow beam 2W LED fitted with snoot provides accent light to the table. Lighting of the pods are also linked to music: the low level lights respond to bass (low pitch), while the glowing lights at the top respond to high tone.
Dance floor: more than 400 LED uplights are recessed into the dance floor and animate the stage during the performance. The lights respond to the beat and rhythm of the music to enhance the performance of the dancers.
Cortex: a slightly understated tower in the corridor linking the main space with the smoking area is the heart of the club. All amplifiers are housed in a tinted glass tube, only the LEDs from the equipment give outline/suggest the power behind. Blue ‘halo’ light makes the column float in the corner.
On top of the typical entertainment lighting, such as moving heads, lasers and strobes a 19m long LED screen behind the bar counter create an ideal visual backdrop which has been programmed whilst several visual effects as a graphic equalizer following the bass / mid / high tone lines.

Innovative aspect
Customised signage / animated.
Pods lighting respond to bass / mid tone / high tone.
Dance floor: more than 400 blue / amber LEDs.
Lighting to table / 2W LED with standard fixture fitted with snoot to provide precise beam control.
19m LED screen / equalizer / visual canvas linked to music dimming control system to provide simple scene control via architectural, which can override via dmx signal to give full control of R+R lighting and architectural lighting from LJ / VJ
booth.
Customised fixtures: local supplier to develop linear dmx controlled striplight / light fixtures.

Credits:
Music, Light and Space
Interior Design: Orbit Design Studio in association with Bed Supperclub
Client: Sound Good Phuket, Co. Ltd.
Lighting equipment (incl. dimming system): 100,000 BPS
Size: 600sqm
Main Supplier: Neowave Technology, Neo-neon, Lighting and Equipments, Dynalite/Lightstyle, Dynamic Source
Lighting Design team: Bernhard Bstieler / Filip Vermeiren
Associates: Chanyaporn Chuntamara / Nalatporn Sakdirit
Photos: Bernhard Bstieler and Basil Childers

Living Light

2010-03-13T20:17:00.001+01:00

Living Light by David Benjamin and Soo-in Yang (aka “The Living“) is a permanent outdoor pavilion in the heart of Seoul with a dynamic skin that glows and blinks in response to both data about air quality and public interest in the environment. The skin of the pavilion is a giant map of Seoul with the 27 neighborhood (gu) boundaries redrawn based on existing air quality sensors of the Korean Ministry of Environment—each shape in this new map encloses the air closest to one of the sensors. Then the map illuminates to become an interactive, environmental building facade. Citizens can enter the pavilion or view it from nearby streets and buildings, and they can text message the building and it will text them back.

This structure in a public park not only provides a canopy and a tactile enclosure, it also suggests that a building facade itself can become a new kind of public space. It can offer important real-time information about our shared resources and our collective concerns. The Living are also showing their work at the current Toward the Sentient City exhibition in New York. See previous post for more details.

Credits:

Sponsored by City Gallery | Hosted by World Cup Park | In Association with the Living Architecture Lab at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
Air Quality Data: Air Korea of the Korean Ministry of Environment
Interactivity programming: Project Randomwalks
Construction Management: BM I&A
Structural Engineer: The Kujo
Optimization programming: Buro Happold New York, Ian Keough, John Locke, Daniel Kidd
Frame Construction: Suam RnC
Lighting Consultation: LED Korea
Fabrication Consultation: aa64
Fabrication: Woojin Laser, Acryl Choika
Fabrication sponsorship: Avery Digital Fabrication Lab at Columbia University

Air connects all the whole planet without regard to cultural or national boundaries.

The city has several existing interfaces to real-time air quality data.

Our project aims to combine real-time data about the environment with dynamic lighting to create an interactive facade of the future.

Via Nait5

Animate Field

2010-03-06T19:39:00.000+01:00

Animate Field by Justin Lui presents a cloud of low-hanging fiber-optic filaments which create a volumetric mass for participants to directly engage in by physically occupying and moving through it. The red lit endpoints of the filaments are locally activated by people’s positions in the cloud. As the participants wade through the thicket of hanging filaments, their movement through the field creates trails of yellow light which persist as a kind of temporal residue, leaving a ghostly memory of their presence and their traveled paths.

The mass of hanging fibers delicately grazes the skin of people whose physical presence in turn causes ripples and waves of movement throughout the mass.

The field of lights in Animate Field constitutes a type of mediated architectural “skin”, but unlike most applications of this concept, this skin takes on volumetric dimensions and makes direct contact with the body.

More pictures of this installation here.

Rogier van der Heide goes to Philips

2010-03-03T11:46:00.000+01:00

Philips announces a further step in elevating the role of design in the company. Recognizing that design is a key factor of brand differentiation and a significant source of competitive advantage, Philips has announced that Rogier van der Heide will be appointed in the newly created position of Chief Design Officer for Philips Lighting. The role of Chief Design Officer has already been established within the Philips Consumer Lifestyle and Healthcare Sectors.

“Lighting design can explore new and unique ways that lighting can meet people’s needs and aspirations through form, function and emotion. Rogier’s work has shown that he truly understands how to simply enhance people’s lives with light. By bringing Rogier into the design leadership of the company we are strengthening our commitment to the field of lighting design and becoming a better partner for our customers,’” says Stefano Marzano, CEO Philips Design and Chief Design Officer for Philips.

Rogier van der Heide will begin his new position as Chief Design Officer for Philips Lighting, beginning on March 1, 2010. Rogier brings twenty years of experience in design-led innovation and the creation of lighting solutions.

He is internationally recognized as one of the leading architectural lighting design specialists and has been awarded many of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including the Lighting Designer of the Year Award 1998, the International Association of Lighting Design Radiance Award in 2005 and the International Lighting Design Award of Excellence in 2005 and 2006. Until recently, he was Director at Arup and Global Business Leader Lighting Design of Arup Lighting.

“The role of Chief Design Officer has been installed in Philips Lighting to strengthen our dialogue with stakeholders by offering a new voice that speaks the same language of innovation as many of our customers and partners. Through this appointment we are able to further integrate design in our business creation processes and people-led innovation. We are thrilled to have Rogier join and bring his strong experience in lighting and architectural design,” adds Rudy Provoost, CEO Philips Lighting.

At Arup Lighting in Amsterdam, things will continue with the experienced lighting designers Simone Collon and Siegrid Siderius and their team.

Photo credits: Roos Aldershoff

Luminair v2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch

2010-03-01T17:34:00.001+01:00

Synthe FX have released Luminair 2.0, the next generation of the wireless multi-touch DMX control app for iPhone and iPod touch. Luminair is revolutionary wireless lighting control software, which uses the Art-Net protocol to control compatible lighting equipment and media servers via the iPhone and iPod touch's internal Wi-Fi hardware.

Among the new features in v2.0 is "Stacks", which is a cue-list playback system designed to make it very easy to put together shows for a variety of uses. Cues can be programmed directly within Luminair, and also recorded as snapshots from an external console or any other DMX control source. Standard playback life using the device's internal battery can run up to 3.5 hours, and can be extended to over 36 hours using a 3rd-party external battery pack. Playback will run indefinitely when the device is plugged into a power source.

Another major new feature in Luminair 2.0 is the ability to assign images as visual references to cues, using the iPhone's built-in camera, photo library, or transferred via Luminair's internal web server. Users can browse and trigger Quick-Touch cues using a CoverFlow like user interface, which renders the assigned images in breathtaking OpenGL 3D. Also dependent on the new image reference support in version 2.0, is the ability to export "Fixture POV" images and data directly from Cast Software's next release of WYSIWYG R25. With this feature, WYSIWYG designers can transfer both a reference image and the necessary DMX data from a fixture POV directly into Luminair, so that a rigger can effortlessly work from the designer's original vision when focusing that fixture.

Other notable new features in 2.0 include full group support, cut/copy/paste capabilities, accelerometer support for XY controls, plus extensive additions and refinements to existing features.

Company founder and lead product developer Ryan Hisey says "The ability to program and playback shows directly from an iPhone or iPod, for periods lasting greater than 36 hours on batteries is really amazing. We're really excited to see how our customers push the boundaries of automated lighting control."

"In this release, we also took advantage of a lot of the great features that are built-in to the iPhone and iPod touch, such as the accelerometer, camera, and photo library. The images in CoverFlow look absolutely amazing, and users can easily add their own custom images and icons via multiple convenient methods. Additionally, we are very excited to be working with Cast Software, who is a highly respected industry leader, on such a groundbreaking new feature for lighting pros."

Availability
Luminair 2.0 is available now, exclusively on Apple's iTunes App Store. For all existing customers, version 2.0 is a free upgrade. Full product details, videos, and screenshots can be seen at http://synthe-fx.com/luminair

Click to download on the App Store

Infinity Bridge

2010-02-27T13:48:00.002+01:00

This is the footbridge over the River Tees designed by Expedition Engineering for Stockton-on-Tees Council. Speirs and Major Associates designed the lighting in such a way that the twin arches reflect in the water at night to form the mathematical symbol for infinity (∞).

The light concealed under the handrail is a custom designed LED product manufactured by ACDC Lighting. Each unit uses max. 3W for both colours, but seeing as the blue and the white are never on at the same time, the true figure is closer to 1.5W for each unit. There are approx. 200 units lighting the deck of the footbridge.

The video shows how the lighting reacts to the presence of people, leading them down the bridge and signaling the presence of oncomers. Blue and white LED units are installed under the handrail. When people cross the bridge, handrail sensors trigger a change from blue to white, leaving a comets' trail of light in the pedestrians wake.

Client: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Design: Expedition Engineering
Lighting design: Speirs and Major Associates
Principal contractor: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd

Photo Credits:
1st photo: Robert McConville
2nd photo: Tall Guy
3rd photo: Steven Roberts