The project - for Scottish environmental arts organization nva Arts - involved the design of an eco-friendly lighting installation for eight weeks of live promenade performance highlighting the breathtaking darkness of The Storr Footpath on the beautiful Isle of Skye (link to full story on Avo website).
DB says: "I was surprised to be nominated let alone to win the Award! It's fantastic that such an unusual project should receive such an accolade."
The project led to Avolites developing a new rechargeable battery powered dimmer which then went into production as the 12 Volt ART-DC dimmer. The project also utilised an extensive Avolites eDMX radio data system to control lighting fixtures scattered across the side of a mountain, and an Avolites Pearl lighting desk - situated 1.5 Km away from the furthest fixture it was controlling. DB has always been a fan of Avolites and he and the company have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship spanning many years.
The 2006 Lighting Design Awards - which recognizes the most innovative and creative use of lighting in all types of environments - took place at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel, and was attended by over 700 lighting industry professionals and key practitioners.
The new Entertainment category is a joint enterprise with PLASA, which Lighting magazine's editor Ray Malony sees as "part of the growth of the LD Awards themselves and the increased crossover and cross fertilization between entertainment and architectural lighting".
He comments: "The Storr project was one of the most inspirational schemes we saw this year, and I was really impressed with the scale, ambition and execution. It also shows what can be achieved by lighting in terms of creating a real atmosphere, and the attention to detail was excellent."
The Entertainment category judges were all experts in the field. They called the project "an awesome undertaking" and praised the scheme for its respect for the majesty of the environment and in overcoming technical obstacles with lateral thinking to create a unique and enchanting environment with light."
(Chris Henry)
