dpa were recently invited to participate in designing an installation for the inaugural darc Night Awards, held on 24th September 2015.  This was a unique event held to celebrate the darc awards and to also showcase a series of light installations from collaborations between lighting designers and manufacturer partners.

“Light is our guide.  Light assists when darkness falls.  But what if light were a barrier?  An obstruction?  Enter the Light Tunnel, where you must find your own way.”

Light Tunnel creates the illusion of a seemingly impassable route by utilising a series of full height lit vertical lines placed carefully so the participant perceives a barrier that prohibits them from travelling through.  The use of mirrors to the ceiling, walls and the edges of the lit profiles provides infinite inter-reflections, extending reality and the sense of obstruction so one is left to discover the pre-defined passage. Dynamic control of the installation alters the appearance of the Light Tunnel, ensuring continuous way finding adjustment amongst the blurred visual boundaries.

The installation used homogenous illuminated double faced tunable white and RGB modules complete with mirrored side facias. Each light element was installed at floor to ceiling within a secondary tunnel structure designed to conceal the existing building fabric with mirrors continuing along the entire ceiling length.