Thorn Lighting's Concavia high bay luminaires are living up to their aesthetic image by finding their way into the smart world of interiors. The latest installation, within the £25 million AirSpace exhibition at Imperial War Museum Duxford, near Cambridge is of particular interest.Some 276 fitting are used in the main hangar using 400W metal halide elliptical lamps to give as near a level of natural daylight as possible for the unique aviation collection.
Built at a cost of £25 million, the Museum provides an inspirational display space for some of the world's most impressive feats of engineering. At its heart is a vast open area
(12,000 m2) accommodating almost 30 classic British and Commonwealth aircraft, a number of which are suspended. Exhibits range from the "string and wood" of the earliest turn of the century machines, through to the legendary Spitfire and Lancaster, the fearsome Vulcan and iconic Concorde.
The lighting scheme for AirSpace was designed by Connell Mott MacDonald. As well as high lighting levels with low glare, consistency in colour of the lighting was of prime importance - the aircraft colours had to be authentic. Prismatic reflectors balance up, side and down lighting to illuminate the task, walls and roof, thus creating visual interest in the wider space. The result is a more uplifting and stimulating atmosphere than provided by conventional high bay fittings.
AirSpace was constructed by Laing O'Rourke Ltd with electrical installation by Aqua Group.
