The illusion

 

Deriving inspiration from the ocean and hills of Deep Bay, the Hong Kong sludge treatment facility, known as ‘T ▪ PARK’, provides a distinct landmark along the north-west coast of Hong Kong. When viewing the beautiful architecture it is obvious that no quality has been sacrificed. T ▪ PARK is formed in the shape of two huge rolling waves. Vasconi Architects have created a grand illusion — the building looks like anything other than what it actually is! Form belies function.

And the lighting defies belief.

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illumination Physics was the design/build contractor for the client, Veolia-Leighton-John Holland Joint Venture,, and was honoured to be tasked with the lighting of all outdoor areas including the special façade lighting, landscape, the Environmental Education Centre (EEC) for visitors and all the general purpose lighting for the internal roads and access pathways.

illumination Physics created a predictive lux level study for all of the external areas using Dialux software. Our company also designed and manufactured all of the project’s LED light fixtures. The way-finding pathway lights are solar powered and self-contained.

The general purpose lighting needed to be illuminated to a lux level that met code. The solution was custom designed in the form of a low level linear wash light that ‘grazed’ the surface from a shallow angle, placed 400mm above the plane of the road surface. The special façade lighting was always intended as part of the grand statement. The profile of the building reflects a 400 metre long double wave with a vertical accent in-between crest. The architectural façade lighting follows this shape precisely and traces the edge of the structure with lines of light, beautifully emphasising the form at night.

illumination Physics has long produced a linear direct-view RGB light strip for this purpose; IP Bar. It enabled our installation team to run the fixture along the ‘rolling wave’ roofline as it can be linked in series. This fixture’s on-board power supply meant access and installation difficulties were avoided, making IP Bar the most cost-effective choice.

Below the roof line of the plant buildings, the northern façade is constructed from a stylish glass curtain wall of overlapping clear glass panels. The curtain wall is illuminated from below with the IP Wash 36, an RGB LED luminaire with 10 degree lenses installed. The crystalline form of the overlapping semi-transparent wall illuminates best by up-lighting because the incident light registers well on the soffits of each layer of panels and the roof overhang, 40 metres above.

The use of narrow lenses enabled illumination Physics to produce a focus that spanned the full height of the façade. Two hundred and forty luminaires were concealed in bull nosed housing at the foot of the wall. This lighting plot was the second element of a display intended to suggest breaking sea waves. Combined with the IP Bar’s graphic display capabilities, the up-lights complete an illusion of the ocean in a synchronised animated display.   

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In the foreground of the facility is a formal landscaped garden containing decorative pools of fresh water produced on site. The largest of these contains a powerful single fountain jet surrounded by three concentric rings of illumination Physics underwater lights, each with 36 Rebel LEDs.

illumination Physics designed and installed the control system that synchronises the three special lighting elements into a coordinated display that is the highlight view of the building come nightfall. 

Advanced architectural and illumination technologies have been seamlessly combined to emphasize the streamlined and wave-form design of this innovative and sustainable multi-purpose facility. A feat that could only be achieved by illumination Physics – the specialists in customised lighting.