Lighting in Design

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We have often featured articles on museum lighting in this magazine, but I do not
recall covering a museum that was part of a heritage site so I was fascinated,
when chatting to Morag Campbell of Xhamai Design, to learn just howmuch effort goes
into working on a site that is governed by the strict guidelines of the National Heritage’s
Act. Everything that is altered must be able to be reversed; so the floor is a wooden
deck that is installed on top of, but without damage to, the existing floor and the exhibits
are hung on a multi-purpose frame that incorporates not only a horizontal bar for the
artworks but also the LED strip lights. Where additional lighting was required, the team
incorporated custom designed light fittings onto the conduit round boxes and spotlights
were mounted onto partially existing points.
With this simple but effective lighting installation, Campbell, Viegas and the rest of
the JV team have created a layer of memories, not just of a negative past, but also of
a positive future. By accentuating the vaulted ceiling to illuminate its imperfections
and charms; using spots astutely; selecting the right colours to soften the space; and
applying bursts of light to break monotony, they have, throughout, intensified the emo-
tion attached to the building. As Campbell correctly says, they have managed to insert
something new into what was obviously a very old fabric, without losing the sense of
what it was like to be there all those years ago when the venue served as a prison. The
result, which highlights light and architecture, is poignant to say the least.
Moving from history of one kind to another, Otto Horlacher of Giantlight has designed
an LED engine that tests until now indicate can operate indefinitely at voltages way
higher than 230 volts. The new system is made more appealing by the fact that there
is no external driver so not only is all the relevant technology onboard, but the board
remains stable and can withstand voltages of 380V. Further tests will be conducted, but
Horlacher hopes to introduce his new LED engine to the South African market in 2015. It
is likely to be a welcome solution to the ‘floating neutrals’ frequently experienced during
the installation of LEDs and we look forward to following the progress of this new design.
Looking back over 2014, it has been a long year and we have survived elections,
black outs and postal strikes. It is therefore really good to hear that in spite of these
distractions, many local lighting companies are flourishing, with some not even taking
the usual break over December. On this positive note, Adel, Jenny and I would like to
thank readers and advertisers alike for your support and wish you all a happy and relax-
ing holiday season and all the very best for a successful 2015.
Till the new year!
Editor: Karen Grant ) - Advertising manager:
Jenny Warwick ) - Layout: Adel JvR Bothma - Circulation: Karen Smith
Cover: Cell C Campus, Waterfall Business Estate (Photograph: Dudley Bunn)
Published by Crown Publications cc
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