MUSEUM of LONDON LD+A & Museum of London
Text: John Houston / Wildwood Public Relations Pictures: Lynn Sammonds / MUSEUM OF LONDON LD+A & Museum of London
Helvar has worked closely with award-winning EXPLORING MODERN LONDON lighting design practice LD+A on the transformation of the historic Museum of London into a world-class Collectively known as the ‘Galleries of Modern London’ visitor attraction. the collection comprises three period galleries, Expanding City; Peoples City; World City; all of which The Museum of London is one of the world’s largest tell the story of London from 1666 to present times. urban history museums and has over two million objects in its collection. Part of this collection includes L+DA had many challenges, not least the fact that the the largest archaeological archive in Europe. The new lighting design needed to be completed before museum has recently completed a £20m refurbishment the exhibition content was actually finalised. Specifying project which has transformed the Museum’s lower the lighting control early in the project gave Lee Prince floor galleries to offer a fresh approach that engages a foundation on which to design the scheme: “I’ve visitors with the voices of the city. worked with Helvar for many years so I knew I was on solid ground when I chose them so early in the project. Helvar has provided the lighting control system for the The design evolved over a number of years but the one impressive lighting scheme at the museum. Designed constant that remained has been our relationship with by Lee Prince, Managing Director of L+DA (Light and Helvar.” Design Associates), the scheme provides excellent functionality while adding atmosphere and mood to the The galleries are predominantly lit by track and museum galleries and surroundings. spotlight – a practical and effective solution. A prime consideration was the conservation criteria that had to
Lynn Sammonds / LD+A Museum of London
12 News • 2 / 2010 be taken into account during the design process. To museum collection and have been adapted for use with this end the practice worked closely with conservators glowing LEDs. The finale is a combination of moonlight and curators to meet guidelines for light levels and UV and a star lit sky consisting of 4000 stars. radiation, as well as develop unique lighting profiles for each case or open display object based upon lux/hours Lighting control for the Expanding City gallery is exposure. This innovative approach permitted darker provided by a Helvar 900 Router with two Imagine objects (such as some of the costume displays) to be lit racks. The Router’s DMX input and AV interface allow with higher than usual lux values giving added drama to ensure that the lighting elements and AV work together the cases and an enhanced visitor experience. seamlessly. The system also controls the directional lighting that highlights selected costumes and objects. HIGH-TECH GESCHICHTE The Imagine system softly raises and focuses on the objects whilst the rest of the case is lit to very subdued The Expanding City gallery has a ‘total immersion levels. After a timed period, lights are fade to low levels experience’ pleasure garden, whose content is and a different group of mannequins and objects are conceptually driven by the lighting design and the slowly highlighted. Imagine control system. A fifteen minute film tells the story of an evening visit to a Victorian pleasure garden and the lighting design creates the long shadows of evening as the sun is sets as well as the colours of sunset on the trees. The effect is carried around 180 degrees passing light through the trees, by programmed moving head projectors. The scene then changes to moonlight The Lord Mayor’s coach dappling its way into the space. was first used in the Lord This part of the performance is lit by a firework display and original Victorian tea lights hung through the tree Mayor of London’s Show branches. These original glass lanterns are from the in 1757 and is still used once a year for a parade through the streets of the City of London.
Museum of London
2 / 2010 • News 13 The Peoples City gallery uses dynamic programmed displays Helvar DMX Router controlled moving head spotlights to pick out objects of particular importance over a timed sequence. L+DA has internally lit the glass panels of the art deco Selfridges lift to effect a warm glowing beacon to the gallery. The War corridor has linear slits of indirect LED panels in the ceiling to add to the starkness of the blitz story, this builds to the dramatic lighting of the suspended Second World War bomb.
The Lord Mayor’s coach, which is the centerpiece of the World City is one of the museum’s most memorable exhibits. Built at a cost of £860 in 1757, it was first used in the Lord Mayor of London’s Show in 1757 and is still used once a year for a parade through the streets of the City Lynn Sammonds / LD+A of London. The space is lit with a mixture of warm tungsten halogen and intense red-filtered light to emphasise the richness of the coach paintwork. The coach provides an arresting sight for passers by in the street and gives the museum street presence, a new, much-welcomed development.
The project was completed over three separate phases with the lighting control system being installed over 5 years. LD+A have designed a comprehensive site wide remote monitoring and device management system to provide ongoing support for the site. L+DA have designed and overseen in construction. The installation has been well received by museum, corporate visitors and public alike.
Museum of London
LONDON BAR AND WALL KITCHEN
Alongside the main museum is the London Bar and Wall Kitchen which also features a Helvar Imagine system. Located in the Barbican, beside the Museum of London, the restaurant and bar offers a traditional British all day dining menu. Designed by Ben Stephens of LD+A the lighting control system creates atmosphere throughout the day and evening.
The restaurant has a high ceiling and suspended pendant fittings have been installed to create a warmer atmosphere and a more intimate atmos- phere. There are four main lighting scenes with the luminaires operating at 70% during the day, dropping to 40% during the evening to create a background for evening dining. The scheme has Lynn Sammonds / LD+A been submitted for the FX Design Awards.
14 News • 2 / 2010