Category: Clubs
Cafe 1001
Tape London
The Brief
Tape London wanted to install a custom LED ceiling into their exclusive nightclub, similar to the one we had previously installed in the Lightbox @ Fire.
The Installation
We custom built 15 panels, with individual LED pixels on string which we then attached to the ceiling via wooden joists. The system is controlled via custom built drivers and Madrix via an upstairs control room.
The Challenges
The key challenge was the timescales – the whole project, including design, manufacturing, built and installation was completed within weeks.
The Steel Yard
The Brief
Already a successful London bar with a multifunction events space, the venue wanted to expand their events area to encourage even more business. As such Loose Cannon wanted an architectural lighting solution that would suit both live performances, product launches, conferences and club nights.
The Installation
In both the event space and bar area, our engineers rolled 12m WBs along the curve of the ceiling, just like ribs, whilst COLORband Pix and Slim Par 12s were used to down light the walls. This lighting design created a varied space that highlighted and enhanced the building’s architectural features.
The Challenges
The primary challenge was for the lighting crew who had to work at 10m heights on scissor lifts.
Proud Embankment
Fest Camden
Ashtar
The Brief
A stylish shisha bar, Ashtar wanted their guests to experience the glamour of Middle Eastern culture within a lush technological envelope. Having visited VII Club in Dubai, Mohamed Anwar wanted a similar pixel mapping ceiling effect, albeit unique to his venue. It was very important for him that the whole lighting system was integrated and as complete as possible within the physical limitations of his space.
The Installation
The main aspect of the installation was the lounge area, in which we attached 407 pixel tubes to the ceiling. The tubes are fully pixel mapped and are sound to light responsive, creating breath-taking 3D patterns. LED dance floor tiles were also mounted around the walls and floor to add to the immersive effect. The design was completed with a good number of moving heads and special effects. In the bar area, we installed bespoke LED tubes above the bar, keeping the amount of light to a strict minimum, to retain the atmosphere of traditional shisha bars.
The Challenges
Integration of very different effects was a challenge as well as installing the very first 3D lighting system in London. The other challenges came from the structure of the building, as the venue is under a railway arch.
Corsica Studios
Fantazya
The Brief
Owned by the same company as Ashtar, the owner of Fantazya wanted to continue with the theme of authentic middle eastern culture along with luxury and style, however, with more of a focus on the dance and nightclub elements. As such Fantazya asked Halo to enhance their dancefloor area.
The Installation
The main feature of the installation was to embed a LED dancefloor into the existing floor. This was done by pulling out the flooring of the dancefloor section and smoothing the concrete down so that the new LED dancefloor would sit completely flush with the rest of the venue.
We also installed 26 mirror balls above the dancefloor. However, these were built into the roof, so as not to decrease the head room in the already low ceiling. To complement these, some DJ lights were put in.
The Challenges
Then main difficulty was ensuring the LED dancefloor was completely flat due to the concrete underneath initially being uneven.
Pulse Nightclub
The Brief
As a multifunctional venue, Pulse needed equipment that would serve all their events, from club nights to conferences. The venue is made up of 5 railway arches and each space had to be versatile but retaining its individuality.
The Installation
The main room is the venue’s main club space however it is also extensively used for conferences. This means the room’s main feature, the LED screen, had to be designed to serve these two purposes. Measuring 5m x 2.5m, the screen can be separated into 5 parts which are all separately programmable while also being able to be programmed together. The screen sits on rails, powered by electronic truss motors, allowing the screen to move forwards and backward and up and down.
Arch 3 is used as one of the primary event spaces. As such it has been installed with two projectors that blend into one image, along with 18 Chauvet Slim Pars that light up the ceiling. The more relaxed vibe for arch 2, ‘the chillout arch’ was achieved by installing 24-30 IP Color rails to downlight. In Arch 5 we created a fully UV room.
The Challenges
The main challenges were around time constraints and atmospheric conditions. Each room had to be installed whilst the club remained open for business – this meant very tight windows for our teams to install the equipment – whilst keeping the new installation secret until opening night. Furthermore, being an old railway arch, the venue was quite damp and we had to select the correct type of equipment on the outset to ensure durability of the installation.
Blackheart – Camden
The Brief
As a Heavy Metal/ Punk Bar the venue wanted a budget solution to install a new stage rig for their live music events.
The Installation
To rig the intelligent fixtures, two ali poles were rigged at the front and back of the stage, to light both the stage and the dance area.
The Challenges
The main complication was that the venue was situated on the first floor and the building had no lift, meaning all the equipment, including the long poles; had to be carried up the stairs.
Cargo
The Brief
As the flagship venue of Shoreditch Bar Group and one of Shoreditch iconic clubs, we were asked provide dance, stage lighting and ambient lighting throughout the club.
The Installation
We installed various lighting equipment in the different rooms as well as a range of special effects such as CO2 and confetti cannons.
Gatecrasher Birmingham
Cafe de Paris
Club Colosseum
Area
The Brief
Area, one of London’s Vauxhall clubs, asked Halo to install an LED curved matrix as well as a full lighting rigging structure to their ceiling. The club was built inside an old brick railway arch and the brief was to bolt the steel structure to the arch and ensure it would be adjustable in all directions to compensate for the difference between the rough brick arch and the precise geometry of the curved grid.
The Installation
The basic building block of the matrix were 5 x 5 LED panels. The LEDs were mounted in custom made, sealed ‘trays’ with transparent acrylic covers. This was to protect against condensation when the club is busy and from the occasional leakage of rainwater through the old brickwork.
We installed a total of 19,075 RGB LEDs in the grid pattern that curved to follow the line of the ceiling. Each LED was controlled individually using ‘Archaos’ software on a dedicated computer. This allows graphics and video to be played across its surface.
We also installed 60 open grid squares. Each grid square containing either a mini green laser, moving head spot or moving head LED wash. All these fixtures were controlled using ‘Showcad’ software. A further 2 high power RGB lasers were mounted above the DJ position.
The installation also included smoke, haze and CO2 machines all controllable from the DJ booth.
Barcode
Lightbox
The Brief
Replicate the background from Justin Timberlake’s ‘Rock your Body’ music video!
The Installation
The arched ceiling and walls were lined with Philips Color Kinetics’ iColor Flex SL, a LED-based strand of light that comprises 50 individually controllable RGB nodes. The result was an all-encompassing low-resolution video display screen that wraps around the entire room, enveloping club goers in moving light. The ‘Light Box’ room has since been used in music videos by popular dubstep artists, Nero and Katy B. To achieve the desired pixel resolution, the LED nodes were spaced 4in apart, and over 50,000 holes were drilled to accommodate a total of 12,672 LED nodes, and corresponding wiring. The nodes had to be spaced in increments small enough to produce decent resolution and the designers determined that 48 prefabricated panels were required; each lined with iColor Flex SL strings that were then sandwiched between two plywood sheets. When complete, the panels were lifted into place and each string was connected back to the drivers based in the control room, using an 18-way multi-core cable.
Have a look at the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSVHoHyErBQ
The Challenges
The first major challenge was the spacing between nodes, balancing the budget with the need for a dense enough arrangement to trick the eye into seeing a coherent picture – despite the arch’s restricted headroom. The second challenge was fitting everything perfectly to align and be geometrically correct to the curved walls of the railway arch.
Paper
The Brief
Create a colour changing lighting sequence for Paper’s crystal chandeliers, in the age of 3 colour only LEDs.
The Installation
Back in 2006, LED technology was coing in three colours only: green, blue and red. We had to physically mix LED pixels to reach the desired colours and sequence using involved programming.
The Challenges
The challenge was the limits of existing LED technology at the time.
FIRE
Space Ibiza
Pacha – Cube
The Brief
To design and build a bespoke lighting feature/ structure for the club’s main room, ideally hanging from the ceiling. The venue was keen on the idea of using LED screens in some way.
The Installation
We designed a large cube structure using scaffolding poles and fitted some 1x1m LED screens on each face. The LED cube was then hung from the ceiling. To hide the poles, pixel bars were fitted along the edges and separately programmed.
The Challenges
The main challenge was hanging the cube from the ceiling. As it was hung at such a height, the cube had to be fully built before being hung. This vastly increased the overall weight, requiring aerial work platforms to be brought in.