The pavilion site incorporates a garden and an internal exhibition space. Both the garden and internal space contain specially commissioned artworks by nine renowned British contemporary artists on the theme of mankind's relationship with nature.
Although the garden would be viewed during daylight hours throughout the summer months DALD chose to illuminate the space for dusk and overcast conditions. The pre show queuing area consists of large 'leaf-filigree' wooden fencing panels and graphics, lit by continuous runs of high output externally rated T5 fluorescents, sleeved in a moss green filter. Once inside there is a densely planted garden of British ferns, grasses and seasonal flowers as well as a canopy of trees. Atkinson wanted to create a naturalistic approach to the lighting by limiting the amount of point sources to the space. Mounted at high level, a series of HID (high Intensity discharge) fixtures cast tight shafts of dappled light through the tree canopy and onto the pathways through the garden. A 4000 Kelvin colour temperature lamp was chosen to replicate the feel of moonlight bursting through the trees. To help enhance and create contrast, low voltage fittings were randomly positioned below some the artworks and trees.
As a complete contrast, visitors enter the darkened pavilion down a long pure white gallery-like corridor to a series of photographs which are tightly lit by strategically positioned AR111 frame lights.
Inside the main gallery space the visitors experience a unique mix of art and science through a series of British innovations, all inspired by the natural world, whether it's the way bats hunt in the dark, the sticky feet of the gecko or the energy contained in the tides. Using interactive communication media, it offers the visitors a unique experience, which highlighting the need to protect and preserve the natural heritage.
Lighting within the space is effectively reinforced for the giant video projection surfaces which are suspended above the gallery. One hundred Anycolor T5 fluorescent colour changing units are positioned around the perimeter of the space behind translucent panels, which are programmed to run in conjunction with the video server. Some of the interactive displays incorporate low voltage lighting but the majority relied on the strong ambient light within the space. Lighting manufactures involved include AC Lighting, Ares, Anytronics, Commercial Lighting Systems, Encapsulite, ETC, Iguzzini, PSS, TAL Lighting and Teclumen. The Expo runs from the 25th March until 25th September 2005.
(Mike Lethby)
