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Left Project architects 6A and BDP designed three glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) light rings, each over nine metres in diameter to house all the equipment needed. The rings not only gave the large space a statement piece, but provided a platform for all the spotlighting to exhibits on the mezzanine level. Above Custom curved ERCO track is recessed up into the body of the rings and features ERCO optec LED track mounted spotlights.
HAVING A BALL
BDP has created a fashionable lighting scheme using custom made elements for an exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.
Fashion Gallery 40 is the latest exhibition space within London’s Victoria & Albert museum, which re-opened as part of the museum’s ‘FuturePlan’ scheme after under- going major refurbishment works. The ten month closure saw the spectacular space restored, ensuring it was ready to house the ‘Ballgowns: British glamour since 1950’ exhibition which will reside there until January 2013. The V&A’s wider renovation ‘FuturePlan’ programme is designed to transform the museum, revitalising visitor facilities and redisplaying the collections. By using the best architects and designers, the V&A’s aim is to restore modern design and innovation to the heart of the museum. Many of the galleries have already been renovated since the programme began back in 2001 bringing the facilities in to the 21st century includ- ing new mechanical and electrical services, lighting plus improved access and disabled
facilities.
The gallery is split over two levels; the per- manent display fixtures are located on the more intimate ground floor with the visiting exhibitions afforded the mezzanine space. From here the spectacular domed roof can be seen from all angles providing a fitting backdrop for the iconic fashion creations currently residing here. Uplighting to the eight columns renders them in silhouette subtly reinforcing the architectural lines without detracting from the exhibition. The lighting of the roof posed one of the first challenges for the design team to overcome; how to provide enough even illu- mination to do it justice without competing with the overall architecture of the space. Mark Ridler, Lighting Director at BDP who provided the architectural lighting design on the project said, “We heard that regular visitors were not even aware that a dome existed. Our task was to give the architec-
ture back to the public whilst maintaining an appropriate visual balance with the displays”. Working collaboratively, the project archi- tects 6A and BDP designed three glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) light rings, each over nine metres in diameter to house all the equipment needed. The rings not only gave the large space a statement piece, but provided a platform for all the spotlight- ing to exhibits on the mezzanine level. The sectional profile of the rings was carefully engineered to ensure the linear fluorescent uplighters are not visible from any point in the gallery and the custom curved ERCO track is recessed up into the body of the rings for a cleaner aesthetic. “The technical and aesthetic challenge was to make any physical intervention as minimal as possible. This was achieved through meticulous detailing and respecting the fundamental geometries of the space,”
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