Prize(s) Winners in Interior Architectural Illumination
Company Maxfordham Llp
Lead Designers Caroline Webb
Other Designer's names Nick Cramp
Architecture Company Witherford Watson Mann Architects
Client Nevill Holt Opera Limited
Photo Credits Helene Binet
Completion Date June 2018
Project Location Leicestershire UK
Entry DescriptionNevill Holt Opera is in the courtyard of the 17th century stable at the Grade I listed Nevill Estate. The theatre is designed to host the estate’s Summer Opera Programme and is on a confined site, which meant our design and strategy had to suit the seasonality of the theatre and the limited space. The lighting meets the Architect's vision for the building of a 'raw' space in keeping with the original agricultural use of the building. We needed to work within a very limited budget to design timeless and elegant lighting pieces which were non the less very functional – the same system working for opera performance, recital with orchestra, daytime workshops, small lectures, cleaning, set up and maintenance. Our approach was to create special fittings and test them at every stage of the design development and manufacture. We needed a bespoke output and bespoke modelling files, bespoke shades, bespoke mounting methods (lighting bar), bespoke drivers and dimming method (GDS). A huge amount of effort went into doing something which at the end is so deceptively simple. The final results provide a warm and inviting auditorium where the humble history of the building isn't hidden.
