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Artistic Licence Do It With Candle-Power
The National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh has recently opened a permanent exhibition of letters and historical items from one of the most important literary archives, the John Murray Archive.
Lighting designer Nich Smith was brought in to design a lighting scheme which would form both an exciting interactive experience for the visitor whilst fulfilling the conservation requirements demanded by the sensitive exhibits.
The result was a series of ‘Character Showcases', each of which contain significant props and archive materials pertinent to the individual author. The showcases are left intentionally dim until activated by a visitor using interactive touch screens to fade lights up on the appropriate object. This has the dual effect of restricting light exposure of the manuscripts, and engaging the visitor with the case contents.
The showcase lighting is a mixture of fibre optic and LED technology, the latter of which were controlled by Artistic Licence's unique Candle-Power LED dimmers.
The LED fittings in the cases are a mix of 350mA and 700mA sources, all individually addressed and dimmed locally at each showcase by DMX controlled Artistic Licence Candle-Power dimmers. Each showcase has a mixed 350mA/700mA Artistic Licence Candle-Power dimmer located on the top of the case, and a smaller three-channel 700mA Artistic Licence Candle-Power in the bottom of the showcase, all chosen for their unique ability to cope with mixed loads.
"Finding a product to dim the LED fittings was a challenge. We are mixing 350mA and 700mA fittings in the same case, and I wanted one product to control them all, as well as being DMX-compatible to link in with the lighting control system," explains Smith.
"Fortunately, Artistic Licence could offer a solution in the form of Candle-Power - a product uniquely suitable for the job.
"Interactive dimming of multiple light fittings was central to the design. We typically have 15 ways of lighting per case, which would have been a lot of fibre optic generators and associated dimmers and cabling.
"By using LED lighting and distributed dimming at the point of use, we could simplify the installation yet still retain design flexibility. It also gave us the option of using colour changing, creating multiple looks at a fraction of the cost of conventional methods and made it future-proof for the client when they come to change the contents of the cases in future."
Smith also felt that having local dimmers and distributed mains power and data was preferable, and more cost effective, when compared to having dimming way-lines through out the site and a centralised dimming room.
"We did require some minor upgrades to the LED dimming equipment on site," continues Smith. "However, Artistic Licence provided excellent product support and responded to our needs, which is vital when using new technologies."
"It was particularly satisfying to provide these dimmers," says Artistic Licence managing director, Wayne Howell, "since we had just launched the Candle-Power dimmers when the project came up. The timing was ideal and provided the first sale for us."
Nich Smith has subsequently been awarded the 2008 Lighting Design Awards (Public Buildings) for his design for the John Murray Archive project.
10th June 2008
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