With the lighting playing such an important part in the overall concept for the store, DALD was bought into the project at a very early stage.
The Sky design team's brief to DALD was for the lighting to create a dynamic energy enhancing lighting scheme within an area of Westfield that has high ambient levels of natural and artificial light. The store consisted of the following areas of lighting:
The main structure consists of eight large fins, which appear like aerofoils on end, which support glass panels, and have a graduated printed dot manifestation applied to the glass. Set within the fins high output RGBA LED strips within a heat sink edge, illuminate the glass dot manifestation. The LED strips are controlled over a series of DMX channels, which allow for varying hues of colour to be applied to the glass.
Two internally illuminated Sky logos are positioned centrally at the top of the structure on each elevation. The logos are pre programmed to run the Sky spectrum sequence.
To help accentuate the form of the structure and tie the elements of the fins, glass and logo together, cool white LED strips are recessed behind a narrow opal diffuser within each vertical fin edge.
Positioned centrally, the demo unit is used as a demonstration point for the various Sky products. To help offset the various products and keep continuity between the glass fins a low strip of glass with a graduated dot manifestation is edge lit from below via a series of RGBA LED strips. The base of the unit is fitted with an RGBA LED strip set within a shadow gap with a diffuser to add a soft glow of colour around the base.
Positioned either side of the store, two 'SKY Attract' pillars house HD 3D screens and various products. The products are underlit by edge illuminated LED panels fitted with an opal top for soft illumination of product. As with the 'SKY Go' unit the base of the pillars is lit with RGBA strips.
The control of all the lighting is via a Pharos control system, is pre programmed with various lighting scenes by Lighting Assist, which include the graduating Sky spectrum. The system is linked to a light sensor to allow for adjustment of the lighting levels according to ambient lighting conditions. Future-proofing is built into the design with remote access to the control system via the internet for additional uploading of programmes and sequences.
(Jim Evans)
