International lighting manufacturer, FUTURE Designs (www.futuredesigns.co.uk)

creates bespoke show stopping lighting solution for the reception area of the Berners Wells

building, located in the heart of Fitzrovia.

“The luminaire is the centrepiece of the welcome area in this striking building,” says Matt Blackden Associate Director, Emrys Architects.  “The design is inspired by the distinct curved shape of the building and constructed to throw light evenly across the space.”

Illuminating the welcome area is a series of luminaires of varying sizes in the shape of the design named KONKAVE – strongly taking its influence by the unique curved shape of the building it adorns.   Designed to meet an exacting brief from the architects, KONCAVE uses state-of-the-art LED technology with a hand rolled highly polished aluminium reflector to throw illuminance evenly to create a vibrant welcoming first impression.  
There was a strict design concept that had to be adhered to when manufacturing these bespoke luminaires into a fully engineered working solution.  FUTURE Designs made the dream a reality by holding multiple workshops to develop the concept into 2D and 3D drawings and agree finishes as well as completing a full-scale mock up.  Once the mock up was produced, it went through further design development and sign off, a process carried out by FUTURE Designs, Emrys Architects and McLaren Contractors.
 
A key challenge within this project was managing the weight of the fitting with the load bearing capacity of the area where it is installed.  There was also the question of logistics: the fitting is a vast 7.5 metres long and was delivered to site in wooden crates which were removed and reused as part of the FUTURE Designs carbon careful™ initiative (www.futuredesigns.co.uk/carbon-careful).

The building, named Berners Wells because it has an entrance on Berners Street and Wells Street, is conveniently located between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road Tube stations.  The project comprises the redevelopment of two buildings to provide new workspaces across eight storeys, offering 56,000 sq. ft of office space.