The Spinnaker Tower is a 170-metre landmark observation tower in Portsmouth, England, UK. It is the centrepiece of the redevelopment of Portsmouth Harbour, which was supported by a National Lottery grant. Its shape was chosen by Portsmouth residents from a selection.
As part of a regeneration program the council wanted to breathe new life into the tower by replacing the existing lighting scheme which is coming to the end of its life. The original lighting scheme was completed in 2005 and designed by Equation Lighting, but advancements in technology and aging product facilitated a change in solution.
Hoare Lea lighting proposed a number of potential solutions and design additions to the original but budgets dictated that an upgrade to the original was the best solution. However the original design, mounting locations and specification was re-considered as part of the redesign. The solution provides more accessable locations for installation and maintenance and greater control and kinetic movement of light. The control solution is mapped in 3D which allows full control, colour change and movement of light around the tower – creating a far more interactive and dynamic impression.
Part of the regeneration scheme is focused on energy, environmental impact and how with this lighting upgrade can allow energy usage to be controlled and luminaires be monitored to improve maintenance strategies. Through careful modeling uplight spill was reduced and energy consumption improved by greater efficiency of product and dimming control.
A driving force of the design so far has been to create connections between the tower and its surroundings from the placement of light on the tower and what it does to allowing external conditions and people to influence how the light on the tower changes.
