EXCLUSIVE LOCATION, EXCELLENT LIGHT
The metropolis of London keeps growing and growing. Former docks and commercial areas are being developed as new residential and commercial districts – for example, London City Island, just two tube stations east of Canary Wharf.
Where the River Lea forms a loop shortly before it flows into the River Thames, an attractive new development with apartment blocks, shops, green spaces and cultural facilities has been created on a peninsula of almost five hectares in size. Glenn Howells Architects were responsible for planning this compact and harmonious new district with a view over the River Lea towards the Millennium Dome – with a design that deliberately takes cues from the area’s industrial past.
The English National Ballet and the London Film School are located in this “micro Manhattan” – renowned institutions that attract an audience interested in culture while also invigorating the new quarter. The peninsula is car-free and the focus is on attractive, safe footpaths, squares and riverside gardens – designed by the landscape architects of the London office In-Ex Landscapes. To ensure that these outdoor areas are also pleasant for residents and visitors in the evenings and at night, the lighting designers at Troup Bywaters + Anders developed a contemporary, sustainable lighting concept using technology from WE-EF.
Round luminaires from the WE-EF RFL500 range are a consistent design element in the path lighting. They are made of corrosion-resistant die-cast aluminium and fitted with lighting technology based on the OLC® One LED concept for optimum light and glare control. Deployed as RFL530 pole-mounted luminaires or as RFS530 catenary luminaires, the planners have reacted flexibly to the different spatial situations and installation options. The poles, cables and accessories for mounting the luminaires were also supplied by WE-EF. The integrated Eco Step Dim® Basic control system enables the brightness of the path lighting to be reduced by using sensors or time control to increase energy savings. The lighting designers also opted for the CTY150 as a classic bollard with a clean, round design and a symmetric light distribution that blends seamlessly into the architectural surroundings.
Principal: EcoWorld Ballymore
Spatial planning and architecture: Glenn Howells Architects, London/Birmingham
Landscape planning: In-Ex Landscapes, London
Light planning: Zoe Faulkner, Troup Bywaters + Anders, London
Electrical installation: Lyons Electrical
Photos: James Newton for WE-EF