Besides re-imaging the centre in the minds of customers, there was also a need to do something more dramatic in order to draw customers to the area which essentially lies outside the city centre. "Storcenter Nord is a key part of a larger residential and business area that is experiencing dramatic growth," comments Architect Mogens Kristensen of Aarhus Arkitekterne. "The expansion gives the centre a new identity and the possibility to re-evaluate its relationship to its surroundings."
A key part of that new identity is an attention-grabbing illumination scheme for the centre's entrance atrium, a three-story glass entry constructed to optimise customer flow and the perfect 'can't miss' visual point for passers-by. Inspiration for the lighting design came from a visit to the Martin dynamic lighting installation at Field's Shopping Centre in Copenhagen, as well as the façade lighting at Martin's Happy Factory in Frederikshavn, Denmark, a building which Aarhus Arkitekterne themselves designed. The result is an elegant colour changing entrance that accentuates the atrium's architectural features while serving as a point of convergence for the area.
Visible from the street outside, the atrium is illuminated using Martin 150 W Inground 200 and Exterior 200 colour changing luminaires. Located in the floor of the atrium are 36 Inground 200 fixtures illuminating the steel and glass façade as well as an outer section of ceiling that extends two metres higher than the inner ceiling. The resulting separation between light and dark accentuates the fullness of the space and gives the roof a light, buoyant appearance. Because Inground's could not be positioned in the floor at the revolving door entrance, mounted above the revolving door are four Exterior 200 colour changers that cover the upper structure.
As the installation was completed after the floor was made, Martin Scandinavia developed a special installation sleeve for the Inground's and conducted several temperature tests to ensure that heat would not be a problem. The installation has been running trouble free since September of 2006.
Lighting control of both the Inground and Exterior fixtures is from a PC-based Martin LightJockey system. "After a week and after the client could see the potential and possibilities inherent in the fixtures they wanted a more dramatic look so more colour chases and generally more dramatic looks were programmed," says Anders Birch of Martin Scandinavia. "The client chose a number of colours to mark different calendar events: warm reds for Christmas, bright yellows for the winter sale season and pink for Valentine's Day. It was important for them to be able to 'communicate' with their surroundings."
Martin entertainment lighting fixtures also feature in the space - MAC 250 Kryptons and MAC 250 Washes. The fixtures highlight a small stage area and are typically used for performances and special events. All Martin fixtures were supplied for the project by Lightmakers of Copenhagen through Martin Scandinavia.
(Chris Henry)
