22 minute read
BUILD BACK BETTER AWARDS 2024
LIGHTING CATEGORY WINNERS
No fewer than 14 entries took awards in the 2024 lighting category, including seven projects, six products and one industry initiatives. The judges awarded four Platinums, their ultimate accolade as well as eight Green awards to recognise investment in sustainability by the lighting industry in recent years.
PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES PRODUCTS
PLATINUM and GREEN
Saint Patricks’s Church, County Mayo, Ireland by Dark Source
Covent Garden Market, London by BDP
PLATINUM
Silver Jubilee Bridge, Runcorn
GOLD
Bromley Old Town Hall by Nulty
City of London Supplementary Planning Document by Speirs Major
Thames City, London by Foundry
W Hotel, Edinburgh by LIGHT ALLIANCE
GREEN
Presteigne and Norton Dark Sky Community, Powys by Dark Source
PRODUCTS
PLATINUM and GREEN
Arden by Philip Payne GOLD
GOLD and GREEN
Lania by LumiAdd
Oculus Mini by Lucent Lighting
Resus by The Regen Initiative
GOLD
Lifetime Indicator by Tridonic
GREEN
OptiClip TERRA by Sylvania Group
ST PATRICK’S CHURCH
MAYO
Dark Source
The ‘Dark Sky’ approach to the illumination of Saint Patrick’s Church in County Mayo, Ireland, has won both a PLATINUM and GREEN award.
The project advocates visual and physical manifestation of environmental ethos through the considerate use of light on a publicly respected architecture as a communication platform.
It challenges the common doctrine that one must fully illuminate the architecture to communicate its purpose or value.
Instead, this lighting scheme by design practice Dark Source, inverts the relationship between light and dark by emphasising the carefully selected architectural features whilst retaining unilluminated surfaces in abundance, and informing a confident canvas superimposed on the night sky.
Uplighting is only used where the spill can be contained. Front façade windows’ backlighting is emphasised verticality along with the stained glasswork whilst all the other windows relied on passive illumination.
The warm-lit windows aim to evoke an inviting sense of domesticity. The old scheme only focused on emphasising the verticality through excessive floodlighting whilst the new lighting restructured this hierarchy by balancing both vertical and horizontal experience.
The church grounds were treated as an extension of the façade illumination to encourage social activity after dark. This transformed the church’s night-time role from being an object of interest to a destination worth visiting both for the locals and visitors.
Community involvement has been a big part of design development with activities ranging from taking active part in the lighting tests to installing shields on site.
2200K was utilised across the board to minimise the environmental impact whilst providing a consistently warm and inviting feel for the built environment. The new LED lighting scheme (inclusive of the interior re-lamping) resulted with 2 tonnes of CO2e and 40 per cent light pollution reduction reiterates that a powerful night-time image can be created through judicious use of light even on a façade illumination project.
Important suppliers include Linea Light, Heper, Stoane Lighting, Harte, Rosco and Evica. Picture: Georgia MacMillan, Michael McLoughlin.
COVENT GARDEN MARKET
BDP
The relighting of London’s historic Covent Garden Market by BDP has won both a PLATINUM and GREEN.
Contemporary lighting techniques were key to reinventing the grade II* listed historic market hall. Lighting was rebalanced by increasing the number of lanterns and lowering the power consumption and source brightness of each fitting.
Modern optics with a warm colour temperature deliver a uniform palette of evenly distributed comfortable lighting, maintaining the character of a predominately gaslit conservation area whilst increasing security at night. Existing lamps on the Grade II* listed Market Hall emitted huge amounts of misdirected and high energy lighting and the building-mounted lanterns on all four sides of the building were no longer fit for purpose.
BDP contacted the UK-based manufacturer of the originals and had them refurbished, or produced replicas. The practice used historic photos and old drawings to piece together the original lantern design and locations dating from the time of construction to restore the original design.
There are now eight repurposed lanterns on each side of the building and 12 in the colonnades, set in a zig-zag formation.
Dimmable LED modules designed to replicate the special aesthetics of gas lighting engines replaced the outdated lamps.
The repurposing and restoration of the original hanging lanterns was welcomed by the client who was keen to reduce energy and minimise waste. The portico buildings have been illuminated and the bottleneck balustrade that wraps around the building mezzanine uplit to reveal the warmth of the stone, and the London brick chimneys highlighted to provide texture, height and depth.
Building columns are accented with vertical brightness and contrast at low level. The re-lit piazzas now direct arrivals from the underground station and create a sense of balance, harmony and welcome.
Dynamic RGBW lighting for special events creates a sequence of experiences for this cosmopolitan urban environment. Given the heritage status of the project, all lighting installations had to get agreement from the Covent Garden Area Trust and the conservation team at Westminster City Council. BDP’s practical hands-on approach to design included extensive 1:1 mock-ups which were reviewed with stakeholders.
The team worked with the specialist contractors on the mounting methodology to drastically reduce the impact on the historic fabric; previously there were three or four penetrations per fitting, which it reduced to two. The project improves social sustainability, aiding regeneration, improving safety at night and encouraging footfall.
SILVER JUBILEE BRIDGE
Arup
The illumination of the Silver Jubilee Bridge, which crosses the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes, has won a PLATINUM Build Back Better Award, the highest accolade.
The lighting designer Arup aimed to celebrate the intricate beauty of the structure, with its graceful form that swoops high over the river, and connect it with the community below.
‘We see lighting as a useful tool for placemaking, landmarking, and educating observers. We thought beyond our title as designers to becoming historians and storytellers. Our ambitions were to reflect the history, structural form and details, honour its builders, reduce obtrusive light, and emphasise the structure against the modern Mersey Gateway Bridge upstream’ says the firm.
The old lighting scheme inefficiently flooded the bridge with cold white light, flattening architectural details and causing significant light obtrusion above the towns and on the marine environment.
Arup’s design began by characterising the nocturnal scene, followed by archive research into the bridge’s site, context, and history.
This informed its ‘inside-out’ lighting concept, illuminating the lower and upper chords of the bridge arch with concealed projectors.
Its research showed how the lack of local lighting competition allowed subtler techniques, using low-power luminaires discretely concealed within the structure.
This technique of ‘lighting from within’ reveals all the fine detail of the structure, telling the story of its construction from the foundations to the apex, highlighting textures, and revealing the labour behind every structural rivet which binds it together.
The raw elegance of these engineering features is celebrated up close to pedestrians on the bridge.
From afar, its magnificent form is clearly defined and offers an alternative visual perspective after dusk.
The concept aimed to minimise obtrusive light for residents and its negative impacts on biodiversity and the nocturnal environment.
By integrating luminaires within the structure, the team significantly improved efficiency, achieving over 95 per cent energy savings and a similar reduction in light spill into the night sky.
Normally, elegant white light illuminates this landmark. However, Arup engaged children at Widnes Academy to create their own coloured light show. Through an interactive workshop with colour pens, gels, torches, and large-format drawings of the bridge, they developed a set of colourful concepts. Their show is displayed every January, allowing all the children to enjoy it from their playground and across both towns.
Client: Halton Borough Council
Lighting Designer and Light Show Content Design: Arup
Main Contractor: Balvac
Lighting Sub-contractor: Studiotech
Lighting Equipment: Griven Lighting
Controls: Ecue
Community Engagement: Widnes Academy
BROMLEY OLD TOWN HALL
Nulty
Bromley Old Town Hall, winner of a GOLD Build Back Better Award, has been sympathetically refurbished to restore the original design aspirations of the old town hall, and to reinvigorate the building with a flexible workspace, all-day restaurant, and boutique hotel.
Lighting design practice Nulty worked in close partnership with Cartwright Pickard and Fusion Interiors Group to unify the heritage design story with the modern requirements of a mixed-use scheme.
Originally built in 1907 to house the town hall and courthouse, the building evolved in 1939 when an extension was added to incorporate a new council chamber, and again in later years when the basement was repurposed to create a nuclear fallout shelter.
The lighting design had to accommodate these complexities and help to knit together the different chapters of history.
As the original aesthetic was largely intact in the Grade II listed 1907 section, the lighting design is primarily decorative and pays reverence to the architecture.
The team studied source materials to understand the style of luminaires that were originally used, then refurbished and reinstated decorative light fittings across the key areas.
When it was not possible to re-establish an original fitting, luminaires were faithfully reproduced by the same heritage lighting specialist to maintain a consistent design language.
Fittings were updated to make them appropriate for a contemporary context, with emergency lighting hidden within the heritage pieces to protect the sincerity of the aesthetic.
The team was less constrained by the heritage in the 1930s section where everything had been stripped out, so an artificial skylight ceiling was introduced in the central hall to replicate the original skylights.
The backlit ceiling works harmoniously with the surrounding architecture, but it is an inherently modern solution and features dynamic white light linked to daylight sensors.
In the co-working space, every attempt was made to produce a high-quality fit out that resonates the spirit of the original local authority building. Solid-state solutions were used to bring the performance of the meeting rooms and workspaces in line with contemporary workplace expectations.
Downstairs in the basement, wall mounted linear lighting brings warmth and character to the raw brick and concrete aesthetic and improves permeability. The final scheme balances contemporary lighting interventions with an authentic design narrative that prioritises reuse.
Suppliers: Madson Black, Cooledge Lighting, Deltalight, Flos, Tryka, Orluna, Intra Lighting, Filix.
W HOTEL
EDINBURGH
LIGHTALLIANCE
The W Hotel in Edinburgh has won a GOLD Build Back Better Award for lighting design practice LIGHT ALLIANCE.
Judges said the practice captured the spirit of the world's leading festival city by combining functional light and features in innovative ways.
Bespoke lighting has been carefully integrated to provide extraordinary spaces which stimulate the senses, delivering an immersive and memorable experience. Lighting was integrated within furniture, assembled offsite, and using 3D printed forms/features to reduce waste and optimise efficiencies.
Designs were optimised using 3D software, with suppliers, equipment and materials selected to minimise embedded carbon. Embodying Scotland’s rich cultural tapestry, a multitude of narrative streams are interwoven across the hotel’s three buildings.
Many lighting components effectively disappear during daylight hours, appearing only when and where light is required. The lighting intent strikes a balance between uniformity and visual interest, to ensure that spaces are accessible and inclusive, yet able to create the right character for a W brand hotel. The result is a flexible, dynamic, and vibrant city-centre destination, which can be tailored to suit specific times, events, and occasions.
These include Ancient Pride/Land of the Free, Secret Passages/Mythical Creatures, Scientists/Inventors + Visionaries, Untamed Energy/the Volcanic Heart of Scotland, Warrior Poets/ Disruptors.
Mostly all lighting elements throughout are bespoke and often based on standard components tailored to the space or application, resulting in flexible, energy-efficient, and optimised spaces with intuitive controls and systems which are easy to maintain.
Selected features include: a deconstructed woven tartan sculpture that sails through the entrance lobby, a trophy wall with bespoke unicorn heads (The national animal of Scotland), architects tools’ pendant inspired by James Craig (the architect of Edinburgh New Town), immersive spa treatment rooms corridors and suites, handcrafted tailored furniture and joinery with integrated programmable lighting elements, the surprising cinema tunnel within a ‘close’ between buildings, alchemy-inspired beaker lamps on a volcanic rock bar, tree canopy lighting feature surrounding the main bar, mythical creature inspired hand-blown crystal digital chandelier, concealed and integrated lighting throughout the W deck roof-terrace, low-impact integrated façade ribbon lighting, customised and innovative lighting features throughout guestrooms and suites. The latter are all based on sustainable materials, replaceable parts and upgradable components.
Client: Nuveen
Architect and Interior Design: Jestico + Whiles
Control Integrator: Link Media Systems
CGI/Design Intent Renders: F10 Studios
THAMES CITY
Foundry
The illumination of the transformative Thames City project in south London has won a GOLD Build Back Better Award for its lighting designer Foundry.
Thames City is the revitalisation of 10 acres of former industrial land into a landmark residential-led mixed-use development.
It signals a vibrant new chapter for the area, establishing Nine Elms as a global destination. It's distinguished by a stunning collection of landscape spaces, including courtyards, green podium gardens, and an expansive linear park.
Open to the public, it features a series of beautifully designed green spaces, ideal for hosting events and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
With a thoughtfully planned network of waterside walkways, cycle paths and green areas, the landscape aims to promote active lifestyles and enhance the well-being of all who visit.
Two towers in Phase 1 of the development —No. 8 and No. 9— rise 35 and 54-storeys respectively, from a two-storey podium. The buildings offer new luxury riverside apartments and a host of resident amenities including wellness facilities, a 30m swimming pool, residents lounge, cinema, karaoke rooms, private dining and a sky lounge.
Independent lighting design practice Foundry worked with the client team to refine and fully deliver the initial concept masterplan created by Equation Lighting into a specific phase 1 identity and character, working in harmony with the natural texture, changing colours and movement in the foliage, stone and water, our lighting focuses on enhancing the sensory aspects of the landscape design, encouraging people to slow down and observe their surroundings.
The blend of warm light and darkness reveals and enhances the various buildings and landscape elements of this development after dark.
Much of the lighting is low height, creating an intimate environment that encourages people to dwell.
Lighting to the primary circulation is focused from columns to support wayfinding, framed by highlights to the stone cladding of the building, trees and foliage, while low-level fixtures reveal the internal routes and low-level planting.
THE CITY OF LONDON LIGHTING SPD
Speirs Major
In July 2023, the City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee voted unanimously to adopt the ground-breaking document (SPD), a statutory set of guidance for external lighting within the City of London.
The document, developed by Speirs Major in collaboration with the City’s planning team, was an initiative that came out of the authority’s 2018 Lighting Strategy, which sought to establish an innovative approach to lighting within an area that boasts some of the tallest contemporary tower buildings in Europe, set within a unique mediaeval street pattern.
The SPD, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, takes a creative and flexible approach to reducing the environmental impact that lighting creates while encouraging solutions that will realise the social and economic benefits of good design.
The 2018 Lighting Strategy the City identified a series of desired outcomes, including reducing energy waste and light pollution, improving the quality of the public realm and mitigating potentially harmful effects of obtrusive light on both residents and local biodiversity.
These objectives formed the basis for the SPD, which aims to ensure that all new developments include proper consideration for how lighting will complement the unique architectural and heritage context, as well as addressing important issues of sustainability, safety, accessibility, inclusion and amenity for residents, workers, visitors and tourists.
Under the newly adopted guidance, lighting is integrated into the planning application process at a very early stage with applicants for major developments required to submit a lighting strategy as part of any pre-application and then a fully developed lighting concept at the application stage.
Technical details of lighting schemes are then delivered post-planning as part of the conditions, including mandatory information on how the lighting will be operated and maintained.
Supporting this guidance is provided to help applicants to achieve the desired outcomes. A simple methodology limits light spill and brightness based on a series of ‘District Brightness Zones’ including residential, heritage, cultural and tourist areas, and commercial, retail and transport hubs.
Each of these has varying ‘curfews’ to help control external illumination and the impact of interior lighting, particularly for highly glazed buildings, including dealing with such issues as the lights being left on in empty buildings.
The SPD also includes a ‘Lighting Charter’ that encourages existing building owners and their tenants to sign up to many of the initiatives on a voluntary basis.
THE PRESTEIGNE AND NORTON DARK SKY COMMUNITY
Dark Sky
The Presteigne and Norton Dark Sky Community in Powys, Wales, by Dark Source has won a GREEN Build Back Better Award.
Covering an outer area of 40 square kilometres and a combined population of 2,700, the historic towns of Presteigne and Norton in Powys, have become the first International Dark Sky Community in the country.
The project – led by Presteigne & Norton Town Council, Powys County Council and independent lighting consultancy Dark Source – supported the local community initiative to tackle the significant light pollution caused by the blue LEDs introduced to save energy back in 2008.
This unique collaboration established a much-needed town precedent as the large majority of the Welsh Dark Skies consisted of reserves, parks and sanctuaries until now.
Comprehensive long-term lighting tests were carried out and community feedback was vigorously sought throughout the project as part of the design development.
A total of 380 lighting columns were refurbished with 2200K LED luminaires with 96 per cent with full cut-off beam. The CRI was also kept low to minimise impact on biodiversity.
On Broad Street, heritage-style lanterns are retrofitted with gas mantle LEDs in order to enhance the experience of the historic thoroughfare.
Some 40 per cent of the lights have been programmed to switch off while the remaining 60 per cent have been pre-set to half their intensity after midnight. In employing such curfew and dimming profiles, light intensity and energy usage were significantly reduced whilst prolonging the longevity of the luminaires.
The project has reduced annual CO2 emissions by 4.5 tonnes which has been facilitated by the extension of the scheme into a nearby industrial estate under the jurisdiction of the Welsh Government so that the lighting character remained consistent across the town.
The success of this lighting project has prompted the authorities to consider rolling similar schemes out across the county.
Suppliers: TRT, Pudsey Diamond
ARDEN
Philip Payne
Considered to be the first-ever wooden emergency exit sign available on the UK market, the Arden from Philip Payne has won both PLATINUM and GREEN.
The Arden has an impressively low embodied carbon score of 29.87kg CO2e, up to 30 per cent lower than many non-wooden exit signs. Crafted from European joinery-grade oak sourced from responsibly managed forests, the Arden contributes to sustainable forestry practices.
The production process, within the UK, maximises material efficiency, with waste from CNC machining repurposed to heat the UK production facility.
At the end of its lifecycle, the oak body is fully recyclable, supporting a circular economy approach.
Every aspect of the Arden is designed with sustainability in mind, says Philip Payne. The high-transmission acrylic legend panel contains up to 90 per cent recycled content. The advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate battery boasts an expected design life exceeding eight years, significantly reducing maintenance requirements and waste.
The long-lasting, British-made LED module has a rated lifespan of 100,000 hours.
Glow-wire tested to 850°C, it meets stringent fire resistance standards. The DALI 2 certified emergency module enables integration with building management systems for efficient monitoring and control.
RESUS
The Regen Initiative
The Resus fluorescent-to-LED retrofit fixture from The Regen Initiative has won both a GOLD and GREEN.
The Resus offers a simple fluorescent-to-LED retrofit option for upgrading luminaires. Designed to fit the majority of existing T5 and T8 fluorescent fittings, its design allows it to pick up on existing fluorescent lamp holders, using them only as a mechanical fix.
All electronics are remote by the way of a remote driver allowing the product to be controls agnostic. Resus is designed to operate within any space where a fluorescent lamp once occupied.
It’s controls agnostic, meaning Resus can work within any building management system and will operate with any fixed output, DALI or wireless drivers, and will, as standard, operate with key switch, self-test and DALI monitored addressable emergency systems.
Resus features 3D-printed end caps which can be changed to suit T5, T8 and PLL lamp holders.
In an upgrade, the existing fluorescent lamp and driver are removed but that the original fitting remains in situ thus negating the need for the product to be placed through the e-waste stream and retaining all its embodied carbon.
The materials used in Resus contain a significant percentage of post-consumer recyclate and, other than cutting to length to suit the lamp dimensions, requires no post-finishing.
Self-assessment to TM66 scores the product at 3.1. The product is also assembled without the use of adhesives, resulting in the product being able to be repurposed and ultimately easily recycled at end of life, in line with circular economy principles.
LANIA
LumiAdd
The Lania track-mounted spotlight from LumiAdd, partially made from spent coffee grounds, has won both a GOLD and GREEN.
LumiAdd says the light is arguably the most sustainably made track spot in the world as it’s made in the UK from plant polymers with a low carbon footprint and uses waste coffee grounds to add colour and texture.
The grounds are combined with polylactic acid (PLA) but retain a unique texture and colour which cater to the aesthetic preferences of environmentally conscious consumers.
Combining the coffee with plant polymers from renewable sources like sugar cane, enhances the environmental value and reduces fossil fuel use.
Aside from the sustainable material and use of waste, the Lania trackspot range is versatile and highly efficient.
It boasts up to 130 luminaire lumens per circuit Watt, a colour rendering of Ra90 and a maximum output of 1600lm delivered.
It’s available in four different beam angles including an adjustable option. LumiAdd has printed products using other waste streams, including reclaimed oyster and scallop shells, spent grain from beer production and waste from chocolate production.
LumiAdd uses plant-based polymers to 3D print luminaires. It says that the plant polymers it uses are significantly more sustainable than conventional materials currently used in the lighting industry.
They produce 33 per cent less Co2 emissions than petro-chemical polymers and 97.5 per cent less Co2 emissions than aluminium.
3D printing on demand results in zero waste. LumiAdd products achieve the highest TM66 (CIBSE Circular Economy Assessment Method for Manufacturing) category of excellent circularity. LumiAdd also offers a buy back scheme to support the return of LumiAdd luminaires at the end of their first use to ensure they can be reused again.
LIFETIME INDICATOR
Lifetime Indicator
Tridonic’s Lifetime Indictor which shows a driver’s health and ageing rate has won a GOLD Build Back Better Award.
The innovative feature, included in Generation 4 Premium drivers from this month, is based on a unique algorithm.
These values are accessible via NFC using the brand’s free 4 service App and allow users to understand the lifespan of the driver and its degradation rate accurately.
A low ageing rate indicates optimal utilisation and provides a clear picture of the component's longevity. Should a driver's degradation be high, the company can identify the causes and take measures to prolong its life, leading to less frequent replacements and reducing maintenance.
OPTICLIP TERRA
Sylvania Lighting
The OptiClip TERRA by Sylvania, an office light made from cardboard, has won a GREEN Build Back Better Award.
The OptiClip TERRA combines replaceable light sources with luminaire housings made from recycled/recyclable materials, particularly cardboard.
This innovative initiative was a collaborative effort involving Sylvania’s top specialists and external cardboard production experts.
The company’s goal was to create a product that is environmentally friendly, energyefficient, user-friendly, and of high quality.
Transforming cardboard from a packaging material into robust, office-suitable light fixtures posed significant challenges, requiring rigorous testing and multiple iterations.
OCULUS MINI
Lucent Lighting
The Oculus Mini downlight from Lucent Lighting has won both a GOLD and GREEN for its sustainability credentials.
The recessed eyeball luminaire achieves a TM66 rating of 2.5 for ‘excellent circularity’ and is manufactured in the UK using 89 per cent recycled materials.
The modular design supports Lucent’s ProCycle scheme, ensuring the fixture remains in circulation for at least 20 years.
This platform allows for easy upgrades and repairs to the LED technology, significantly extending the product’s lifespan.
The modular approach eliminates the need for tools during installation, demounting or maintenance, distinguishing the Oculus Mini from its competitors.
It boasts a high IP rating, making it suitable for kitchen, bathroom, and fire-rated applications.
The fixture’s screw-in module design, compatible with Lucent’s legacy downlights, reflects the brand’s dedication to backward compatibility and product longevity.
This ensures that even the third generation of the LED51 module can be used with minimal adjustments, maintaining a consistent form factor.
The Oculus Mini features a streamlined structure consisting of a fixture head and an installation frame. This minimalist design ensures seamless adaptability across various applications, including trim versions, plastered-in trim-less, tape and join, and solid ceilings like wood and stone.
The familiar gimbal design is enhanced by a unique approach where the head sits slightly recessed within the frame, offering a clean, unobtrusive look with a 30-degree adjustment capability.
By using recycled aluminium, Lucent has created a highly efficient and sustainable product which reduces environmental impact while enhancing durability and longevity.
The Oculus Mini is aimed at applications in hotel lobbies, retail establishments, and luxury residential spaces. It has fully adjustable positioning and a variety of beam options—including SuperSpot, High Efficacy, and WarmDim.
