Learn how a London basement was transformed into a dynamic workspace with a human-centric lighting scheme using tunable-white technology
When a restaurant in the basement of White Collar Factory—one of London’s creative new office developments—never came to fruition, architects at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) envisioned another opportunity for the unusual space where the only daylight comes from four skylights. Designers transformed the building’s lowest level into a dynamic workspace for 110 of AHMM’s own employees, illuminated with a human-centric lighting scheme using ERCO technology.
“Every space can become magical,” says AHMM Co-Founder and Design Principal Simon Allford. While the basement was more of a challenge to design than the building’s upper levels, the 983-sq meter space “fundamentally had everything we would look for in a project.” Part of the basement’s grandeur, is its 8-meter floor-to-ceiling height. Photo: ERCO GmBH/Martina Ferrera
The limited natural daylight is supplemented by can-shaped pendants with glare control, tunable-white light and dimming capability to vary the light in the workspace over the course of a day.
Photos: ERCO GmBH/Martina Ferrera
Track downlights with wide and oval beam distributions support pendant illumination and focus light into work areas, allowing for large spacing between luminaires and increased visual comfort for staff. Photo: ERCO GmBH/Martina Ferrera
Illuminating vertical surfaces with track lights increases perceived brightness of the overall space and adds a feeling of openness to the enclosed worksite. Photo: ERCO GmBH/Martina Ferrera
A modular architectural system consisting of box-like plywood cassettes makes it possible to easily reconfigure rooms, and Bluetooth-enabled luminaires can be programmed to suit new layouts. Task lights on each desk provide additional flexibility, giving employees control over their environments. Photo: ERCO GmBH/Martina Ferrera