ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS: iGUZZINI PAVE THE WAY FOR GALLERY LIGHTING

Editor: Christopher George 

Achieving architectural lighting that has the ability to showcase artwork at its best is no easy feat. Yet, it is one that ARUP Lighting Design achieved with an innovative approach to light at the Royal Academy of Arts, made possible by Italian lighting manufacturers, iGuzzini. ​

With a goal to improve the performance and efficiency of the Royal Academy’s existing lighting system, as well as minimise the need for maintenance, this project centred on functionality and the assurance of installation flexibility. ARUP engineered lighting in the gallery to benefit the curators, audience and individual pieces alike, with technology playing a unique role in the final result. 
“The new LED light fixtures consume only about 15% energy compared to what the old halogen fixtures have consumed, which means there is a lot of savings. It also saved a lot of money in terms of maintenance and actually setting up the show. The outcome exceeded our expectations.” - Pavlina Akritas, Associate Lighting Designer at Arup

ARUP utilised Bluetooth interfaces to give optimum control and adaptability to the Royal Academy’s lighting, from groups of lights to individual luminaires. Paired with iGuzzini’s lighting and their specially designed products to benefit the Royal Academy, this gave an astonishing result that illuminated the paintings and pieces of art evenly, giving a sense of aesthetic consistency. It also gave exhibition staff and curators the opportunity to fully customise and adapt lighting to suit each exhibition. In fact, according to ARUP’s associate lighting director, Pavlina Akritas “The use of Bluetooth has been so well received in the gallery that they’re actually thinking about rolling it out in other places”.

iGuzzini
www.iguzzini.com

ARUP Light Design
www.arup.com