STAR Princess - Central Atrium, Italy

In 2025 – PLACES: High Budget

ProjectSTAR Princess - Central AtriumLocationMonfalcone, ItalyLighting DesignMRD Lighting, USAArchitectJeffrey Beers International, USAAdditional DesignTAIT TowersClientPrincess CruisesLighting SuppliersETC, ENSTO Marine, EOS, ATEALighting ControlETCPhotographyDOMAS Images, J.D. Hopper, Heather Konish

Building on the technological success of SUN Princess, STAR Princess’s central Piazza is both an architectural centerpiece and a dynamic experiential environment. The space combines open dining venues, a performance area, and three-deck-high convex windows framing expansive ocean views, with a flowing layout designed to encourage guests to mingle throughout the heart of the ship.

Beyond its architectural presence, the Piazza is a major advancement in lighting and entertainment integration. Bridging architectural and performance design, the venue incorporates approximately 300 universes of DMX data to create a pixel-controlled, fully immersive environment. Miles of pixel-controlled lighting line coves encircling the walls across all three decks, continuing through radial ceiling coves. The central chandelier contains 28 universes of pixel-controlled LED connected through custom hardware, creating a one-of-a-kind visual centerpiece. The venue can operate as a neutral white-light space or transform into a vibrant, fully dynamic show environment, synchronized with entertainment programming. Concealed within the chandelier is a rigging point and winch, enabling aerial performers and flying scenery.

The Piazza is designed for adaptability. During the day or between performances, lighting remains neutral, with subtle movement and soft color accents. At night, as shows begin, walls and ceilings come alive with color, motion, and effects, drawing guests into the action. Video content can be mapped directly onto the pixel nodes, allowing the room itself to complement imagery on the main screens. Tiny DMX-controlled spotlights in the ceiling highlight decorative fins leading to the chandelier, adding sparkle to the glass. Six deck-to-ceiling columns flanking the atrium are backlit with pixel control panels, and custom RGBW fixtures are embedded into bulkheads on every deck. Dining and beverage areas remain in static warm white, grounding service zones and differentiating them from performance spaces. The result is a fully customizable venue capable of transforming for shows, themed cruises, or special events, ensuring a unique experience on every voyage.

At the core of the Piazza’s magic is its control system. An ETC Atlas Pro coordinates dynamic lighting and entertainment effects, working with the ship-wide Helvar system to blend architectural lighting with pixel-controlled elements. During performances, the entertainment system separates pure architectural lighting from architainment elements, locking service-area lighting in place while sending multilayer video signals from the media server to the pixel map. This allows the entertainment team to fully animate the atrium, transforming it into a living performance space.

The Piazza’s design and execution brought together multiple collaborators: architectural and interior design led by JBI, architectural and architainment lighting design and programming by MRD Lighting, and kinetic stage elements by TAIT Towers. The result is a technologically advanced, visually stunning, and emotionally engaging environment that is both a centerpiece for the ship and a new benchmark for immersive guest experiences at sea.

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