Prize(s) Winners in Heritage Lighting Design
Lighting Design/Product Company Nulty
Lead Designers Daniel Blaker
Other Designer's names Anna Sandgren, Kael Gillam, Matthew Allen-Olivar, Kathrin Nuestro
Architecture Company Cartwright Pickard
Interior Design Company Fusion Interiors Group
Photo Credits James French
Completion Date December 2022
Project Location Bromley, UK
Entry DescriptionA sensitive lighting design response at Bromley Old Town Hall helps to reclaim the heritage of the Grade II-Listed building and breathe new life into the historic site.
Across the circulation areas, original bowl pendants were replicated and reinstated to complement the building’s period features. In the central hall, artificial skylights flood the space with light and pay reverence to the 1930s skylights that were removed when the floor above was extended. The backlit ceilings provide dynamic white light, which reflects the colour temperature and intensity of external light levels.
In the restaurant that now takes up residence in the old Courthouse, integrated perimeter lighting accentuates the wood panelled walls and artwork, and uplights elevate the space. Decorative glass pendants were also reintroduced to honour the original design intent.
A new flexible workspace resonates the spirit of the local authority building, yet every attempt was made to elevate the building’s performance to that of a contemporary workplace. LED technology was integrated throughout to deliver functional illumination for focused work, video conferencing, and meetings. The workspace scheme plays homage to the past, whilst incorporating the contemporary lighting interventions required to take the building into its new chapter.
Sustainability ApproachThe lighting design response balances the need for contemporary lighting interventions within an authentic narrative that prioritises reuse.
The lighting team reviewed archive photographs of the 1906 and 1939 sections of the building, then refurbished and reintroduced traditional lighting elements to honour the original aspirations of the old town hall. Original light fittings were reinstated where possible and complemented with historically accurate decorative luminaires elsewhere to preserve the overall authenticity of the scheme.
Integrating LED solutions throughout the workspace scheme was not without its challenges and required the team to balance existing repurpose goals with structural constraints. This was especially the case with functional elements such as emergency lighting, which had to be carefully integrated to preserve the sincerity of the visual aesthetic.
Company DescriptionNulty is an independent lighting design consultancy working with some of the world’s foremost architects and interior designers. Founded in the UK over 11 years ago, the practice works on projects all over the globe and has studios in London, Dubai, Miami, Bangkok and Pune. The award-winning team delivers architectural lighting design at every scale, working on city-wide masterplans, public realm schemes, and hospitality, retail, commercial and residential projects.
