The regeneration of Battersea Power Station has given rise to a number of stunning architectural innovations, helping to secure the site as a destination for locals and tourists alike. Every feature and facet of the incredible building has been utilised to create awe-inspiring spectacles – even down to the design of the lifts.
Lift 109 is situated inside one of Battersea’s iconic chimneys and, with the help of Pharos Architectural Controls, has been designed as a destination in itself – creating a dynamic, iconic experience for visitors.
Michael Grubb Studio was commissioned to provide lighting design and delivery for several elements of the scheme, which required complex co-ordination between several stakeholders, design teams and contractors.
The chimney plays host to a dynamic light show, comprising multiple LED rings of light that graduate up the shaft. The lights interact with visitors through various sequences, starting as the guest enters the lift – which is lit by a single luminaire to evoke a feeling of anticipation – before the rings on the walls of the chimney itself pulsate and multiply, with light ascending up the chimney before finally ‘crashing’ back down to ground level.
The lighting extends across the lift walls as the elevator reaches the height of its ascent. As the lift descends, a halo of white light appears, enabling guests to enjoy the vast interior of the chimney.
Lighting solutions provider, Architainment, supplied the LED strips that make up the rings within the chimney, as well as products from Pharos Architectural Controls to provide the lighting control element.
A Pharos Designer LPC 1 (Lighting Playback Controller 1) was deployed to power the awe-inspiring light show inside the chimney, which was programmed by Architainment’s technical team which included syncing the lighting and audio features – designed by Coda to Coda – as the lift ascends and descends the huge structure.
The Designer LPC 1 is an all-in-one control solution that features individually controllable and independently running timelines and scenes, allowing for fully customisable, pre-programmed lighting effects.
The Chimney Lift experience was designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), in partnership with Sysco Productions and Squint/Opera.
Project Credits:
Lead Consultant Exhibition Design and Art Direction of Media: Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Client: Battersea Power Station
Lighting Designer for Chimney Lift Experience: Michael Grubb Studio
Lighting Designer for the Exterior and Interior of Battersea Power Station: Speirs Major
Lighting Controls: Pharos Architectural Controls
Media Design Input and Production: SquintOpera
Architect: Wilkinson Eyre
Lift Engineering/Design: OTIS (main lift) and Schindler (express lifts): Audiovisual Hardware Design and Engineering: Sysco
Security and MEP Consultant: Steensen Varming
Project Management and QS: Fraser Randall
Lead Contractor: Beck
Lighting Solutions Provider: Architainment
Audio Designers: Coda to Coda
