OUTDOOR LIGHTING ENHANCES AMBIENCE AT VALENTINE PLACE
The location is perfect – in the heart of London, just a few minutes from Waterloo station and equally close to South Bank, the cultural district on the south bank of the Thames. This is where property developer Crest Nicholson realised the high-quality Valentine Place residential project.
Behind the thoroughly renovated facades of an Edwardian flour mill and bakery are residential units in completely different formats. They range from apartments to penthouses and mews houses – a type of house from the 18th and 19th century that originally combined stables on the ground floor with servants’ quarters above them, and have now been transposed to modern living.
A further reference to urban planning in historic London can also be found at Valentine Place. Similar to the terraced houses that were built in the West End from the 18th century onwards around the typical London squares, the residential units at Valentine Place are built around an open space. The design incorporates a park with lawns, trees, hedges, small terraces, benches and paved walkways.
Numerous luminaires from WE-EF create a quiet and relaxed atmosphere in this hidden green oasis. Street and area lighting luminaires, bollards, wall luminaires and inground luminaires provide balanced general lighting, create good visibility and safety on the paths and emphasise features. CTY150 LED-FT bollards line the walkways through the residential development. The CAD-optimised, indirect optics of these luminaires, which are at least a metre in height, direct the light precisely to the circulation areas and reliably protect pedestrians from unnecessary glare. A CFT540 street and area lighting luminaire, which has been installed in the middle of the courtyard, is the 42 W version with 36 LEDs and 4,842 lumen. The lens type selected for this project [R] produces rectangular distribution befitting the layout of the park, and provides appropriate basic lighting for the whole area.
ETC130-GB inground luminaires installed in selected places are an additional design feature. The gimbal-mounted ETC130 versions are precisely directed at special trees and plants in the courtyard.
The Valentine Place apartments feature high-quality technology and exquisite design. Residents will also find a high-class ambience outside their homes. This applies both to the attractive landscaping and the luminaires designed by WE-EF – they harmonise extremely well with the architecture of the residential units, which is also in keeping with the style of the historic bakery and the old warehouses along the River Thames.
Project Credits:
Contractor: Crest Nicholson
Design: Couch Perry Wilkes
Photo Credits: James Newton photography