Project Overview
A dazzling array of light and movement named “Luminous”, is spread across a 2400sqm building facade, across two buildings, the building is home to the Commonwealth Bank at Darling Quarter. The animated faced is the world’s largest permanent interactive light display, the gentle yet striking installation will be renowned for its changeable canvas allowing artists and the community to meld technology and light.
The benefits of an interactive digital facade includes improved social engagement with the public, enhanced retail place-making and marketing opportunities.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
FJMT - Architect Lend Lease - Project Manager Lend Lease - Builder Lend Lease design - Lighting designer Bruce Ramus - visual content
Project Brief
Lend Lease Development challenged their internal design group to come up with a lighting scheme which would embellish the external western facade. With a limited budget Mike Sparrow developed a design utilising a RGBW LED located between the timber internal blinds and the external window, the concept was well received by the architect and the concept grew from the original 50 windows until all 557 windows were utilised. There are two different size windows, the larger ones contain a two pixel arrangement and the smaller window contains one pixel. With the design in place Bruce Ramus provided the content.
Project Innovation / Need
The positioning of the LED’s was critical, glare from the fittings had to be avoided for the occupants within the building as well as being visually pleasing for the external viewer. The result was the fittings would be placed on the bottom sill of the window frame facing up, this way the light source would be invisible to the viewing public within the public domain outside the building. The blinds would be set at a reversed angle best suited for the display. Test and prototype fittings were used to determine the best result for all. The standard separate chip RGB arrangement was unacceptable due to colour mixing on the blinds and tenant interference. The animated display is linked to two interactive consoles located within the public domain precinct, these become available to the public to interact with the light display, the display them becomes the world’s biggest play station, kids and adults alike can create art or just play simple games on the facade. Popular games including Big Snake, Pong, Finger Paint etc have already been programmed The display is programmed to provide a simple slow colour wash during Tuesday to Thursday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday the display gets lively and is available for interaction during designated periods.
Design Challenge
Each window has a LED linear luminaire located on the window sill, internally positioned between the glass and the timber louvers aimed upwards. The LED is a R/G/B/W single chip arrangement with a 10 deg distribution, a spreader lens distribute the light along the length of the window compartment. There are two light fitting sizes to suit the two different window sizes, one being approx 1000mm long and the other 400mm long.
The larger shall contain 10 x 10 degree reflector lens with a spreader lens, the fitting shall be split into two PIXEL zones. The LED shall be run at 24V 350mA or 500mA using a RGBW multi chip GREE X-lamp MC-E LED with 2 x 24V constant current transformers and 2 DMX controllers with RDM and heat regulated current control system. The fitting have a 240V input and output female socket integrated with a through current rating of 16 amps. 2 x RJ45 Cat5e input/output sockets integrated at both ends of the fitting.
Sustainability
• The energy consumed by the LED fitting would be approx 21watts for the large window and 11 watts for the small window, which equates to 8880 watts, assuming an average of 5 hours usage per day throughout the year the energy consumption associated with the facade lighting would be approx 1% of the buildings energy usage. • Light trespass and encroachment, (Internal), the light ‘spill’ internally has minimal impact to the tenancy due to the 10 deg cut off the luminaire and the angle timber blind, a sample bay was used as a mock up, this was tested and witnessed to ensure performance and cut-off. (External), the west facing illuminated facade does not encroach onto neighbouring properties and is compliant with AS4282 – ‘Control of the obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting’. The up facing LED lights illuminates the timber window louvers this provides an indirect light source to the viewer external to the building.
• Light pollution, Green Star credit EM17, for v2 the credit applies as the LED lights are within the facade line. In keeping with the six star greenstar rating, ‘Luminous’ is powered by 100% renewable energy via solar panels.
Lighting Design
This award recognises best use of lighting design or effects in indoor or outdoor spaces.
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