Published on: January 28, 2009

Mindseye Lighting Design has completed a project in Bermondsey Square, London/UK. It is a reception area within a large residential building.

The design team used bespoke luminaires that are integrated into the timber cladding.  According to the designers it accentuates the drama and aesthetics of the space.

Here is some info from Mindseye:

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Mindseye Lighting Design were approached by Munkenbeck and Marshall Architects to design the lighting for the residential reception area of an apartment block within the Bermondsey Square £60 million regeneration project. The project is now complete; boasting 76 outstanding residential apartments, new office and retail units, an art-house cinema, a boutique hotel, restaurants and bars, all based around a communal square.

The site was once an ancient monument, and in later years a depressed 19th century housing estate. More recently it has been the site of the famous Bermondsey antiques market, which has a royal charter and is actually called the ‘New Caledonian Market’. It has been on the site since 1960’s having moved here from Islington.

When briefed, Mindseye quickly realized that illuminating the space would be a challenge. The budget was restrictive and the space is relatively complex, having a split level design with double and triple height ceilings and timber clad walls. What’s more, there’s barely a right angle in sight.

Due to these challenges, instead of accentuating or treating surfaces and details, we took a different approach, the idea being to use the visual language of the linear cladding and integrate bespoke fluorescent luminaires with acrylic diffusers. No luminaire on the market was suitable to be integrated into the cladding, so we took the challenge and designed a bespoke luminaire. Their lengths and positioning were carefully considered in order to work with the space, sensitively enhancing the dramatic aesthetic.

The result is pleasing; simple yet effective, providing the required lux levels with an innovative, integrated approach.

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