LIGHTING
tapped into and extended wherever possible to provide power to the new lighting, further reducing the amount of new infrastructure required.
Craig explains:
“ Wireless DMX wasn’ t simply about giving the client sophisticated control. Running a conventional control network would have meant more than 300 metres of trenching, including crossing a main traffic route and disturbing established stone paving. By separating power from control and using the existing electrical infrastructure wherever possible, we could deliver the functionality we wanted without that level of intervention in the Market Place.”
Heritage in the details
Twenty-two Thorn Legend luminaires with illuminated finials introduce a more traditional lighting language around the church, town hall and surrounding streets. A sequence of seven columns with twin Legend lanterns creates a strong visual line from the Main Square towards the War Memorial, with illuminated finials adding a decorative detail after dark.
Bishop’ s Mitre emblems incorporated across the columns and many of the brackets, together with carefully selected paint finishes, reinforce the scheme’ s connection to Bishop Auckland.
15 CAELON inground uplighters bring greater definition to the façades of the town hall and church after dark. The CAELON luminaires sit within custom-made sandstone housings designed to protect against water ingress, while the architectural lighting was carefully aimed onto the buildings to minimise upward light.
Together, the different elements create a clear hierarchy across the public realm: functional light where people need it, architectural illumination for the surrounding buildings and dynamic effects for events. Redundant lighting equipment was recycled wherever possible in accordance with WEEE requirements.
From concept to commissioning Detailed visualisations allowed the council to see how the different elements would work together and how the Market Place could change between everyday and event settings before the design was finalised.
Thorn then developed the lighting design, configured the bespoke lighting and designed the steelwork and accessories, manufactured by Fabrikat. Discussions with heritage stakeholders helped shape the treatment of the town hall, church and surrounding historic architecture.
Durham County Council carried
out the installation, while David Harris of Thorn Zumtobel Group commissioned and creatively programmed the DMX controls. Pre-programmed event scenes and customised GOBO slides give the council a palette of effects ready to use as the events programme develops.
A square that changes with its community
The completed scheme brings functional, architectural and event lighting together within one coordinated design. Paul Gleadow, Durham County Council’ s street lighting and operational support manager, comments:
“ As part of our ongoing work to regenerate Bishop Auckland, we wanted to introduce lighting to the Market Place that could do much more than simply illuminate the space. It had to respect Bishop Auckland’ s historic character while giving us the flexibility to transform the area for festivals, celebrations and community events. We can completely change the character of the space through light when an event calls for it, while the bespoke details give the installation a real sense of place and make it feel very much part of Bishop Auckland.”
For more information about Thorn Lighting’ s urban and architectural lighting solutions, please visit Thorn Lighting www. thornlighting. co. uk
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