Adding the Royal Albert Hall to our credentials was very, very special. When it comes to historic buildings and wow factor, it really doesn’t get any better.
The Grade I listed building’s south entrance has been through a grand restoration – renamed “The Zvi and Ofra Meitar Porch and Foyer” it houses the café bar, box office, retail outlet and open seating for visitors. The lighting design scheme had to work hand in hand with the building’s mix of architectural heritage and newly refurbished areas, and as magnificent as the building is, its constraints provided an exciting challenge.
To combat the lack of natural daylight we used subtle diffused lighting in the day and accent lighting at night. The foyer ceiling, originally very dark, was raised to maximise volume and allow indirect light to gently wash across it. Bespoke suspended fixtures provide upward and direct illumination, designed to follow the same module as the ceiling troughs in adjacent spaces.
Lighting details were used to highlight key features, including a printed stretched fabric light box as a backdrop to the box office and specially commissioned artwork in the café area and foyer.
It’s a low-energy scheme that uses 100% LED products – saving energy and providing easy maintenance.
Photography: James French
— Ellie Coombs
