Happenings
Perth 18th November 2011
A mixed back of happenings today…President Obama has come and gone in a whirlwind visit to Australia addressing the House of Parliament yesterday, doing his best to throw some Aussie slang in his speeches (G’day, mate!). All regular TV programs were turned upside down to broadcast the event live, including his landing, arrival etc! What struck me most was “the beast”, his armoured car(s!) that were sent ahead to transport him. Two cars (one a decoy) that were built to resist any known types of missile and bomb attacks. The car door only resembled those thick bank vault doors! I found a picture on the net for reference. The car is equipped with night vision camera’s. I would imagine the inside has LED lighting??? Did anyone see the video of “the beast” caught stuck on a hump leaving the American Embassy in Ireland earlier this year? For all its millions of security it got stuck on a hump! Hilarious…
In another news flash Australia announced that its forensic services had acquired a so called Tracer, a 8W machine that produces a green laser light (at 532nm to be precise) costing “only” $75,000!! The laser light is said to use the inherent luminescent characteristics of materials to detect residual evidence left on crime scenes. The interesting part for me is that the light produced was not a single pin stripe beam as we are used to but an actual diffused regular light beam allowing you to project on surfaces and hence bring up visual images of finger prints and other residues that may be of interest to the crime scene investigators. I wonder if there is any architectural use for the laser light beam? Knowing that laser can now be produced in any possible colour, just like
the RGB mixing of LED, there could potentially be some application for white light laser? Hmmm, interesting thought ….
Finally in a more shocking revelation I learned today during a meeting with an architect discussing potential solar energy applications, that the power companies in Western Australia have stopped buying back electricity produced by consumers, homeowners and other solar energy producing private installations. It appears that the solar schemes promoting PV by the government have been so successful that the current electricity network cannot take the load. As the power companies are mostly private nowadays you can imagine they are not in a hurry to upgrade the network, nor seems the government. But the result throws the whole renewable energy story out of the window!!! There goes your ROI! You now have to invest in your own storage capacity and cannot sell back (and create a zero energy balance) on your monthly electricity bill… quite a shocker for those who where planning to switch to solar!
Have a meaningful weekend!
Light Watch 205: News from in and around Perth…
That perfect concept story
Perth 17th November 2011
A bit of rain today for a change! For the initiated, rain in Perth is something most of the year we look out for! Some statisticians ever worked out that Perth on average has about 8-9 hours sunshine a day throughout the year! The rain is needed to keep the water reservoirs filled up so we have enough water for our daily consumption. Only very recently was the ban on water use released which included lifting the restriction in watering your garden, washing your car etc.
Workwise today I had an outside meeting in the morning, but have for the rest been focussed on getting our lighting concept presentation ready for a project that we are bidding for and that has to be submitted next week. This is one of those cases where we are part of a greater consortium and the concept has to be submitted as part of the bid. While we generally do not engage in speculative design, we decided to participate by exception for strategic and other business related reasons. For confidentiality reasons I cannot name the project nor its location.
I have blogged about conceptual design before and how the concept in the end should tell a story, have a meaning and a content that makes sense for the owners as well as the users or general public. In this case there was not much of a brief other than a confirmed architectural structure that needed to be lit. We have not been to site (too far away) and had to content ourselves with some minimal site pictures. However nowadays there is “Google (Earth)” which allows you to zoom in on any place on earth and research history and local facts and figures about the country, city or specific place.
Today I felt our concept story has come together…we had researched the local and national history and at the same time worked backwards from the potential lighting effects we had identified that we felt would really render the project in the most exciting way to meet in the middle. You know when they dig a tunnel from both end and meet halfway…something like that. I feel good because the story flows, it makes sense, the resulting lighting effects are pretty unique and if we can manage to realise this within budget I think we have a winner. Whether indeed it is that perfect concept story time will tell. 🙂
In Light Watch some pics I have snapped along the way going to my meetings this week showing that “countryside” Perth is right in there with all the latest technologies!
LED lighting at the local petrol pump…
LED lighting in Central Park…
Light Watch 204: Modern technology progress in and around Perth…
Irony
Perth 16th November 2011
Sometimes there is some irony in life. Today I caught up with an old friend architect from long time ago; when we first met (late 90-ties) he was still with another architectural practice and we were discussing bidding for the lighting design for a project he was designing, the Kalgoorlie Miners Hall of Fame, a museum showcasing the great mining history of the Goldfields. The design actually won him I believe his first design award. As it happens today the museum announced its temporary closure as it had been struggling to be profitable. I visited the museum during one of my trips to Kalgoorlie (about 500km east of Perth), it is a real shame it can’t attract the numbers, as till today it is still a beautiful museum. If they can’t find any other commercially viable use for it, it will likely be closed forever. Fancy I meet the architect again on the day….
The irony of designing projects only to find them derelict or closed down many years later is something we come across once in a while in our careers. I have several of my projects that did not stand the test of time and have either been demolished, closed down for good or redeveloped into something totally different. Funny how we feel sad as somehow it is a art of you dying…
Do you ever return to projects you did before? Sometimes you find it has gone, or has changed completely, sometimes it has been renovated and the lighting has been redesigned. Whenever I can I will revisit old project sites even if at times it is heart-breaking to see the state the once glorious site has turned into, mostly due to poor maintenance. It is something I advocate always as part of a lighting supply package…to include a long term maintenance contract with the supplier or contractor.
Since the museum may close permanently here are some pics from the website and my own archive from when I visited the place a few years back, to share in Light Watch. You will note that a lot of the exhibits are actual real life elements of a miners camp, sheds, tools, drilling towers and so on and located outside the main building to reflect the outback life. Not much lighting…the occasional metal shade lamp can be seen in one of the pictures.
I also added one picture of the so called “super pit” which is just around the corner. One of the biggest (if not the biggest) mining pit in the world. Just look at the size of the huge trucks, like little dots….!
And the Super Pit…
Light Watch 203: Kalgoorlie Miners Hall of Fame and the Super Pit
Welders flash
Perth 15th November 2011
Back in Perth also somehow means back in the country side, with all due respect. Lighting problems in this part of the world are of a totally different nature and proportions, more community level than world stage projects. Not to say they are not real, of course they are, very much so. Today I quote from our “West” newspaper:”… that the Shire of East Pilbara is investigating complaints after a netball game last Friday night left players and spectators with a searing pain in their eyes. A working group has been set up to investigate and find the cause of the eye complaints. Several people went to the hospital and were diagnosed with a so called “welders flash”….”
Now a welders flash is something like a sunburn in the eye and this flash burn occurs when your eye is exposed specifically to bright levels of light containing ultra violet light such as a welders torch, the sun and many of our artificial lamps sources (welders dont wear protective goggles for nothing!). As the incident occurred when playing a game of netball at night under the facilities floodlights, it is highly likely that the lights were the cause. I do not know what type of lights are installed as the article did not state that but one can assume that these were gas discharge lamps. The article does state however that vandals had “smashed the protective covers” (I assume the front glasses) some months ago and I would venture that that would have been the cause. Broken or cracked glass can act as a lens or prism (watch out for cracks in your reading glasses!) and as such multiply and amplify the “burning” effect of the light. It is very likely what happened and the lesson for operators and property owners is to replace defective equipment as soon as possible or risk legal consequences for not doing so! Keep your equipment in good working conditions!
Light Watch a look some typical “country side” installations we have come across over the past years. It is not surprising that we get more and more work in updating lighting installations around the country to bring the installations up and complying to applicable lighting standards.
I kept the picture small…you never know 🙂
Light Watch 202: Sports installation rural Western Australia
Passion
Perth 14th November 2011
Finally back in Perth after a long time away, to catch up on some work here. Time and again I love the feel of the crisp and nice weather when I arrive. Even though it was partly cloudy, the sun (23C)and the breeze made it another nice welcome confirming why I love this country and lifestyle… 🙂 Such a relaxing contrast after the hectic living styles of Mumbai, Jakarta and Singapore! My son came to pick me up and we took the opportunity to have a bit of a catch up over lunch and coffee…I am in town for his (30!) birthday this weekend, quite a milestone!
As you grow older (and hopefully wiser) you look at establishing a life that provides you with passion for what you do. A life without passion is a life without direction and meaning. Having a passion for whatever you do is elementary to happiness. I had this discussion with my son as he has reached a stage in his life where he wishes to find that passion that will drive him the rest of his life. While he enjoys his life and his work provides him with the needed satisfaction, he feels he misses that spark, that ultimate passion. I can without doubt say that it is the love and passion for my work that has driven me through all the ups and downs in my life. If not for that, I would have had a really tough time surviving the down times such as the recessions in 1997 and 2008, my divorce and other inevitable disappointments that happen along life’s path. So I can therefore understand my son’s feelings and sort of retrospect at this time in his life. Even for myself I am not sure when I realised that lighting design was my passion. I know that when I first met with the lighting design department of Philips during my job interview I loved what I saw and the energy I felt, but I am pretty sure that the passion grew over the years. Yes it was instant love, but it then took time to grow and fester in an indestructible passion!
In Light Watch a look at some-one who must have had a passion for lighting design, Louis Poulsen. The classic Danish designs such as the “artichoke” must have come from some one with a love and passion for lighting. The passion is reflected in the consistent way the lighting design is implemented in the different types of light…
Light Watch 201: Louis Poulsen
Space
Singapore 11th November 2011
Do you believe in numbers? This Friday was the 11th of the 11th of 2011. Many people have some form of “superstition” and attached some good fortune to alignment of numbers. I have always been interested in numerology (as I am in Fengshui) and there was even a time where I made sure my fee proposal added up to “lucky” totals. Though I do believe in the energy and thoughts behind this I am not that hung up about it and if it does not work out, it doesn’t. But I like balance so I will generally work things out so the numbers “balance” out. Anyhow last night was an auspicious night for many and most specifically for Space Furniture who choose the date to launch their new showroom, their Asia Space Hub. Space is well known in Australia and owned by Jeff Harvey (from Harvey Norman) who was duly in attendance last night as were most of the “who is who” in the design world in Singapore and key principals of most furniture brands from around the world.
The Space showroom is located in two heritage buildings linked by a modern 4 storey glass building along Ben Coolen Street and besides the top furniture brands also showcases Flos and Luis Poulsen with their latest lighting products. Hence many of the local lighting designers had been invited to the chique launch party. The product that caught my attention was a large dining table with a built in “lazy susan” that had a remote control to rotate the dishes and as it did so it lit up, LED of course. Localised LED back lit mini switches at each seat allowed for people to stop-start the rotating table personally as well. It is incredible how LED lighting is now integrated in even the most luxury furniture pieces! The showroom is beautiful and worth a visit…and check out the circular staircase leading to the roof terrace! All in black and white with perfect lighting from an oval fitting at the top and soft wash from under the stairs…well done.
The evening was good fun with and a great time to catch up with friends, colleagues and business relations in the industry. In Light Watch some snapshots I took with my Iphone.
Light Watch 200: Space furniture Singapore Launch Party
The personal touch
Singapore 10th November 2011
As I am meeting new suppliers and manufacturers agents to update myself on the latest product developments (there are so many new players in the LED market, its just not funny!) regularly as I did today again, Osram sends a round mail to everyone in the lighting industry to announce that they have completed the take-over of all Traxon shares and are now the sole owner of the brand. Like Philips bought Color Kinetics not so long ago, Osram also seems on war path to buy up lighting companies to fill up the missing components in their core product range. We had Philips buy Genlite, Dynalite, Selecon and Osram, Siteco…where is all this going? I am not sure of what to think about all this “big eat small” stuff…
Where is the little shop arond the corner of your neighbourhood? Do we have to go shopping in a supermarket? I know my mum makes it a point to shop practically exclusively in little specialist shops rather than go to a big supermarket, even if it means to drive further away. She has done so for all her life. I always love to go shopping with her, because wherever she goes they know her
and it always is like: “How are you mrs Klaasen? All well? Ah I see your son from Singapore is over, are you cooking something special? I have something special for you today….” You know what I mean? The personal touch…you know you get the best deal.
In lighting for me I feel the same. I need the personal touch, someone I know, I can rely on and someone I can call if I need help. While the mega companies are doing their best to serve us well, the sheer size and bureaucracy of these companies make the personal touch very difficult.
In Light Watch my first job with Traxxon as it was called at the time (yes 2 X’s) was accidental when we renovated the lobby of the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore in 2004 (!). We had actually specified Color Kinetics but discovered on installation that the product was a look alike, though the supplier claimed it was the same as Color Kinetics! It did not have a brand name on the fitting, but checking the packaging revealed the name Traxxon. We felt cheated but in the end it worked well and we decided to go with it. We all have to start somewhere and look where Traxon is now! Well done…
Light Watch 199: Pan Pacific Hotel, Lobby, Singapore ( KLD file foto’s 2004)
Carbon tax
Singapore 9th November 2011
The big news today is I guess the fact that Australia has passed a carbon tax law, making it a legislation to limit carbon emissions or face paying taxes on excesses. It is one of the biggest economic reforms in Australia and with that made Australia the second major economy after the European Union to pass such carbon limiting legislation. The legislation is aimed to push companies to be more energy efficient and in more general terms to stimulate the use of alternative power sources and renewable energy. The law will result in the big energy providers and resources companies like Woodside Petroleum, Rio Tinto, BHP and the like having to pay for each tonne of carbon they will emit. Airlines, freight and shipping companies will pay a carbon charge as well. To impose the new law firmly, companies will not be allowed to trade off their emissions against carbon credits in the first 3 years of the laws implementation which will start in 2012. The carbon tax will gradually increase to reach about A$25 per tonne by 2015.
It is expected that the tax will create an increase in the cost of living of nearly A$10 a week! However the government is giving back to the end user by providing tax breaks and benefits of an equivalent value. At least we, the tax payers (for once) will not be bearing the brunt (yet?).
From our lighting perspective I would think that this new legislation will certainly give the use of renewable energy such as solar power a boast and I am sure that we will see an increase of “solar” activity. With that I mean increased use of day lighting techniques, increased use of Photo Voltaics and improved lighting technology and performance to tap into this renewable energy market. Most of all it is the control and manipulation of light (something that we as lighting designers are experts in) that will be more and more important. Lighting design, integrated design and lighting layout, performance criteria and most of all lighting controls. Light where you need and when you need it.
In Light Watch fittingly a news report was produced just a day ago in regards to an on-going research to reduce energy consumption. A smart grid prototype is being prepared for testing next year in one of the green buildings in Singapore’s Clean Tech Park. In a joined experiment between Philips, the Energy Research Institute and the Nanyang technological University the prototype will testing LED with wireless motion sensors powered by a smart grid. Below how the prototype is intended to be set up. (I have blown the schematic in section for better readibilty).
Light Watch 198: Smart lighting, Source: The New Paper, Singapore
A day back in the office
Singapore 8th November 2011
Back in Singapore, back in the office today for a “normal” day at work, as yesterday was a public holiday. Team meeting in the morning, catching up on emails and other outstanding admin matters, attending to some specific project issues and (believe it or not) planning my next schedule of travelling was pretty much what my day was about.
We are also currently bidding for a big government project which requires a lot of preparation. We are part of a joint venture team and need to provide the input for the lighting design concept. Not that easy as at this stage it is a bit of a speculative design, not something I generally subscribe to, but I feel it is worth the effort. The shortlisted candidates will get paid to further develop the design. So we need to get it right in terms of design concept, general specifications and bill of materials and costing. That has kept me busy most of the afternoon. We hope to complete the design by end of the week. This kind of work comes on top of our regular consultancy work so we have to balance our efforts and input with our day to day priorities.
Today I also received some statistics regarding the PLDC event in Madrid which are interesting and I would like to share here. First of all the number of participants, from 1072 in London, to 1130 in Berlin and no less than 1227 in Madrid! While very much a “European” affair still, it is specifically the overseas participation that has shown a steady increase and confirms the growing interest in our profession! Well done and looking forward to Copenhagen 2013!
In Light Watch the statistics of PLDC in terms of the participants as provided by Via-Verlag, the team that did such an excellent job in organising the event. Thanks!
Light Watch 197: PLDC Madrid 2011, statistics
Acetech, Lighting Summit
Mumbai 4th November 2011
Now that I have returned to Singapore I have finally some time to complete my blog on the Acetech event in Mumbai last Friday. It has been a hectic week and an even more hectic last few days. Thursday I flew from Goa to Mumbai, attended the Acetech welcome and awards night, on Friday we had the actual Lighting Summit in which I was a guest speaker and on which I report below, then on Saturday I flew in the early morning to Delhi to meet a client that had just appointed us for a new project for a kick off meeting and site visit, only to fly back overnight from Delhi back to Singapore. You will not be surprised I spent most of yesterday sleeping it out in bed!
After last year’s inaugural ACETECH Lighting Forum, this year’s conference program (part of the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Building Exhibition) was renamed the International Lighting Summit, like last year with a selected list of eminent international speakers and panellists. The format of each session (we had 8 in total) was a keynote address by an eminent speaker on a specific topic, followed by a panel discussion on the same topic. This year’s event was supported by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) with its president Kathy Abernathy delivering the keynote address. A few speakers
from last year (Chip Israel, Praveen Thampi, Babu Shankar and myself) got a “recall”, while I like to think we were back by popular demand, I am not sure how the whole program was put together and on what criteria the subjects and speakers were selected. There is some room for improvement there I think. There was no call for papers to my knowledge other than a direct invitation to selected speakers. My presentation was titled ” 100% LED in interior spaces, is it possible” with a subtitle: “Towards zero energy and zero maintenance” and was based on a recent project case study. Judging from the feedback the presentation was much enjoyed by the participants.
The event was a full house, but somehow lacked the punch and excitement I felt at the inaugural event, but maybe that was because I had been there and done that last year 🙂 From the feedback however and the fact that the participants stayed in attendance till the very last speaker (we only finished around 7pm!), showed that the format, subjects, speakers and pannelists were a successful mix and most of all showed the importance attached to lighting and lighting design in this great emerging Indian market.
In Light Watch some mood pictures of the award night with celebrity presenters as MC’s, a dance performance in a balloons and the actual Lighting Summit event with opening ceremony (lighting of the lamp and blessing song and Chip Israel delivering his presentation.
Light Watch 196: Acetech, Mumbai, Lighting Summit 2011
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