Luminaires are reused at Holyroodhouse

Halogen-based luminaires have been reused in the lighting of the King’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

Originally opened in 2002 as The Queen’s Gallery, EFLA Kevan Shaw Lighting Design was asked to re-design its original scheme to incorporate  LED technology and adapt the lighting to a new exhibition brief.

The latter allowed for a full range of artwork compared with the original brief which was for graphics and paper works.

The major space is lit by a custom designed rod-based system which originally used MR16 lamps.

Working with Stoane Lighting, a new locally controllable LED adaptation was designed to re-use the majority of the original fittings and provide a high-quality LED solution with individual dimming and changeable optics to maximise flexibility.

The original rod system was refurbished and re-configured to provide an optimised position in relation to the exhibition planes to suit the broader range of artwork to be exhibited.

Following the principles of circular economy, the team sought to re-use and have remanufactured as many other fittings as possible, including the grand chandelier over the staircase as well as step lights and wall lights elsewhere. The reception area was extensively re-configured. Here the original decorative pendants have been replaced by backlit panels accentuating the architectural form of the original ceiling.

These are illuminated by colour tuneable LEDs set to follow the changes of daylight with a cooler and brighter appearance during the day to assist the eye’s adaptation from bright daylight to subdued gallery lighting required to protect the artwork.

In the evening softer and warmer light provides a gentler feeling for evening viewings and events. The lighting control system was replaced to work with the new lighting technology. Predominantly DALI has been used with Casambi wireless system used where it was impractical to run additional cabling.

Operationally the interface has been simplified to switches and rotary dimmers for ease of use by the building staff. The first exhibition was lit by Philip Davies of the Lighting Services Partnership Ltd.

Project team:  Royal Collection Trust, Stoane Lighting, EFLA | Kevan Shaw Lighting Design, Lighting Services Partnership Ltd

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