The week that was 14-18th September
Perth-Singapore, weekend 19-20th September 2015
Monday 14th September, Perth – LED till death do us part…?
On my way to Perth I read an article in the Straits Times, Singapore leading English newspaper, about how the famous Ruriden Columbarium at the Koukokuji Temple in Tokyo has installed LED lighting to illuminate the Glass Buddha statues. From the article I understand that the columbarium houses more than 2000 crystal Buddha statues each fronting a drawer in which people’s ashes are stored. According to Shinto Buddist beliefs those passed away are to be cremated and the ashes are then to be stored for 33 years before they are buried below the Ruriden. The displays were always an attraction but the addition of the new LED lighting seems to have added a new dimension. Next stop, LED illuminated coffins?
Tuesday 15th September, Perth – The birth of a beauty
One of the projects close to my heart is the Palace Hotel in Perth which is close to being commissioned and one of the reasons I am in Perth this week. While the heritage building used to be a hotel in the last century, it has been a bank office building for the last 10-20 years (I have only known it as such). Today it is being converted into a social hub with executive lounges a bar and more. The lighting design of the public areas and the heritage façade were part of our scope and today I went to inspect the progress of the interiors. At the heart of the design were a number of custom designed light fittings; ceiling pendants and wall sconces, designed with a period look but with today’s technology. It was the first time I saw the finished products after we had reviewed the mock ups a few month ago following we made some important changes in regards to proportions and look. Interestingly the lighting effect was never a discussion, everyone loved it from the start, it was the physical execution of the initial dimensions and finishes that needed a serious tweak. The end result is going to be beautiful and I can only look forward to the final completion in the next few weeks to see it in its full glory…
Wednesday 16th September, Perth – Design and reality After yesterday’s interior review, it was now time to review the exteriors façade lighting and I was not disappointed. These so called “D”-days where you see for the first time all you lights coming together tells you whether you got it right when you designed the concept or not. Renderings are easy to make but executing it in reality to a level that you can say yes that’s just the way I had it in my mind is a totally different ballgame. Quite friendly I think there are very few lighting designers around that can claim that the final lighting result is exactly what they had designed. Most of the time I certainly can’t! But today’s first assessment was very satisfying…yes there are still quite some tweaks to be done, but from the first looks I can see it is going to be very close if not better than expected, brightness balance, coverage, colour, the overall picture is going to add a new landmark to the Perth skyline…:)
Thursday 17th September, Perth – Persistence wins the day! If one illuminated landmark building is not enough we finally got the go-ahead today for the façade lighting of one of the other heritage buildings in the city; the more than 110 year old “His Majesty’s Theatre”. Very similar to the Palace Hotel it has very ornate and beautiful architectural features which so far have not been “exposed” to the public at night other then through the glow of the city streetlights. It has been a long time coming, with many political hoops to take, but finally we are there, approvals have been received, quotes have been analysed and budgets now confirmed. Time to start the count-down.
Friday 18th September, Perth – Flaming beauty This has definitely been a week of creative satisfaction and to top it up I today received the hand blown glass shades in the shape of flames that will be going on top of the newel posts inside the Palace Hotel stair well. In one of my previous blogs last year I will have blogged about my trip down south to meet with one of the few glass blowers left in Australia to work out shape, size and glass composition of the shade. I had asked them to be sent to my office so we could test it with lights to determine the best and final light source. While I was keen not to use any retrofit LED lamps, I had to succumb to logic and practicality. I tested the shades with my preferred Xicato smart module, which definitely gave me the desired lighting effects, but the practical impossibility to integrate the module and its driver into the heritage newel posts had me abandon this. Instead we settled for a simple E27 LED globe, which beautifully lit up and oh so simple to install. Considering the clients budget probably our only option anyhow…the end result will be stunning!
Have a great weekend ahead, the week that was
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