Artin were appointed as the lighting designers on the new Junction Multipurpose venue located in Manchester City Centre. Situated in the world class venue of Manchester Central, Junction offers a full F&B offering for both Manchester Central users and also the general public. The bold and vivid venue was designed in conjunction with Up North Architects.
The lighting design drew inspiration from the origins of Manchester Central Station and its history, as well as the modern industrial interior design features which were designed by UNA. Focusing on the industrial design and historic context of the site, the architectural and feature lighting was design heavily around this concept, creating layered features and junction points which aligned with the key interior design elements in the space.
Historically Manchester Central Station, Junction now connects users to the building’s origin through lighting design reminiscent of railway tracks that transport users to an immersive bar experience in the heart of Manchester.
Continuous tubes of RGBW light flow through the space alongside the exposed MEP and feature bar pipe work, acting as a wayfinding tool and highlighting for key focal points. With 360-degree illumination, both the modern industrial interior below and reflective mechanics above are saturate in colour transporting users to a place reminiscent of 80s sci-fi nostalgia. Nestled between the venue’s mechanics, two large bespoke pendants mirror the bar, appearing to be a part of the venue’s network of ducting. Their visual language a way of place-making as well as drawing reference to Junction’s branding. Nodes of coloured light detailed to the ducting surrounding the bar also act as a small touch points.
Whilst immersed in colour, orbs of decorative white light and LED integrated into low level joinery ground the space giving it a cosy atmosphere during the evening hours. From the exterior, the interior glows outward, as colour is diffused through sheer curtains that soften and envelope the space enticing curiosity. Creating layers of light were instrumental in this project for giving the venue a sense of depth and intimacy in an otherwise quite open-plan space. The bar itself is given centre stage using light to enhance its material palette of reflective countertops, glazed tilework, metal beer pumps and glass bottles.
