Architect |
Allies & Morrison - Speirs & Major
- LightLab |
Date Built |
Completion
2014 |
Location |
Beneath One
Pancras Square |
Description |
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A sign outside One
Pancras Square in London indicates that
travellers can access the Underground at
this point.
An escalator takes
you down to this tunnel that runs
beneath the building and connects to the
Underground lines at King's Cross and St
Pancras and the HS1 pedestrian
tunnel. Designed by Allies and
Morrison it has as its main focus what
they describe as a, "... 100m
long light wall, a canvas for a
variety of art and light displays to
create a positive and warm
impression."
They add that, "... Metal
canopies shaped as ‘mini-auditoria’
are arrayed as repeating units of
construction around a constant
radius. Louvred fin sections serve
as a visual baffle for services,
with openable sections providing
full accessibility for future
proofing. The flooring comprises two
shades of ceramic grey tile, which
creates a subtle zig zag texture
responding to the module of the
tunnel components."
Spiers and Major were
commissioned to come up with a way to
enhance the tunnel through
lighting. Their idea was to
create, ".. a memorable and
immersive experience, to create
impact and mark it out as one of the
main gateways to the site. We
visualised an illuminated graphic
artwork, running the full length of
the tunnel, activating the dramatic
triangular cladding and drawing
pedestrians from the adjacent Tube
tunnels. The
resulting wall provides a soft,
seamless light effect, with the
ability to produce both beautiful
pastel shades as well as intense,
saturated colour; all of which can
be gently animated. The design was
developed in close collaboration
with The Light Lab, who also
manufactured and installed the
feature."
Light Lab, "...
designed, manufactured &
installed the seamlessly jointed
glass wall, backlit with LEDs
capable of emitting the full RGB
spectrum & a white light
spectrum from 3.0K to 6.0K. This
provides a continuous curved
appearance, with no shadow lines
throughout." They
add on their website that, "... The
art wall concept was originally
conceived by Speirs & Major,
with the artwork created
by Cross Kings & Tom Sloane
Design. Creating lighting in
stunning muted pastels, so that
the feeling of walking
through the tunnel is not a harsh,
neon experience, but rather works
very subtley alongside the
pedestrian, to create a soothing,
relaxing journey."
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