050 REPORT
THE BLACKPOOL TOWER EYE
Company: Kraftwerk Location: Blackpool, UK
Blackpool’s iconic Tower reopened to the public in September 2011 after a major 10-month restoration programme. Its centrepiece is a new ‘Eye’ observation platform, situated at the top of the tower, which has an exciting 4D pre-show. Blackpool Tower’s operator, Merlin Entertainments, adds The Blackpool Tower Eye to the London Eye, already a success story within its portfolio of attractions. Merlin brought in Austrian specialist, Kraftwerk Living Technologies, to work on the design and installation of the Blackpool 4D attraction. “Kraftwerk seemed to have a good understanding of what we want to achieve with our 4D projects,” said Craig Sciba, Project Designer at Merlin Studios Design Department. “We already worked together with them before and were extremely pleased with their reliability.” The project’s biggest challenge was time. Kraftwerk won the tender in February 2011 for a premiere on 1 September 2011. “The Blackpool Eye 4D attraction con- tains the most 4D effects of any of our cinemas,” revealed Sciba. The theatre has a tiered railing system that can accommodate 120-people. The audience stands on a vibrating platform, for which a steel floor plate and low frequency transducers with a vinyl finish were installed. The effects include ground fog, snow, rain and wind, plus bubbles, three different scents and air-blast, some of which are installed in the SFX railings. The entire system is directed by a Kraftwerk show control system located in three racks. LED banks are sequenced with the film to enhance firework effects. The stereo 3D film itself, produced by Sharp Cookies, is designed to merge with the archways sur- rounding the audience at one point. As the room is unique with two exposed steel arches in the room, projection was a challenge. “We have done a number of these attractions, so we were confident we could technically achieve it“, said Kraftwerk’s Project Manager, Jens Pfennig. Using a 3D model of the site, Kraftwerk speci- fied the correct projectors and lenses because only certain types of projectors are suitable for environments like that. Two Christie HD10K-M projectors with Christie
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ILS-HD lenses were specified. The programming of the 4D effects took place on-site, under the supervision of Merlin Studios Design Department. Kraftwerk got the script with frame accurate indicators for the effects. “They programmed them and then we went back and shifted things a little way forward or a little way backward” said Sciba. “In the end we had three days to programme the 4D. We were still testing the principle systems 12 hours before launch.” A Meyer Sound speaker system, comprising UPJ-1P speakers, HMS-10 sur- round speakers and a 600-HP subwoofer supplies the audio. Lighting includes a curveLED system on the arch and four Robe ColorSpot 250 AT moving heads with customised gobos. As well as a host of Kraftwerk effects, Jem fog machines, Ultratec bubble and snow machines and Magic FX stage fans help create the 4D environment. Merlin Entertainments’ working relationship with Kraftwerk has now expanded out- side of Blackpool and the UK. Kraftwerk recently installed a 4D cinema attraction at the Sydney Tower Eye. Other recent installations include Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire, UK and Gardaland in Italy. Both Parks will open this season with an exciting new 4D Ice Age cinema attraction. Kraftwerk regards itself as one of the leading companies when it comes to systems integration at the highest technological level. Almost 20 years of experience, the comprehensive know-how on technologies as well as the swift implementation of innovations assure high-quality, comprehensive solutions that inspire people around the world. Besides the entertainment sector, the Austrian system integrator is also focused on professional solutions in the field of theatres and stages, multipurpose venues and conference venues as well as the implementation of visual environ- ments.
www.kraftwerk.at
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