Whilst not the largest of buildings, Beckford’s Tower is a fascinating collection of spaces and offered the QODA MEP and QODA Light design teams some very interesting challenges in achieving the correct environmental conditions for the museum spaces and historic building fabric, and visual aesthetic throughout the variety of spaces.
The project brief for services installations was largely focused on maintaining stable environmental conditions within the museum spaces, while also reducing the heating running costs and associated carbon emissions. The existing oil-fired heating system was removed, with the external area previously taken by the oil tanks cleared and used to house new air source heat pump units, serving radiators throughout the museum spaces.
Due to the limited plant space available, conservation heating control has been used to control internal humidity levels while significantly reducing the plant requirements. This allows the room temperatures to be elevated slightly above the outside conditions to reduce the relative humidity internally. As the temperatures required to maintain these humidity levels in winter are too low for a museum space, a hybrid approach has been taken where local standalone humidifiers can be provided during winter months, allowing the temperature to be raised while not lowering the relative humidity too far.
Another key element to reduce carbon emissions is the installation of a roof-mounted photovoltaic array on the second-floor roof.
As part of the wider full refurbishment of the building, small power and data services were renewed throughout, and upgraded fire and security alarms and CCTV installations were provided.
With the building undergoing a complete refurbishment, an entirely new lighting installation could be developed.
The design broadly fell into three main areas, display lighting for the museum spaces, internal and external lighting within the tower and external lighting for the newly excavated grotto tunnel.
Flexibility was key within the museum rooms to allow for a variety of different hangs and artefacts being displayed. To facilitate this, a simple track system was employed ensuring the spotlights could be easily re-located. Furthermore, each spotlight has local on-board dimming control allowing the illuminance levels within the rooms to be easily balanced.
Colour rendering is also critical when displaying artwork, so luminaires with excellent colour rendering properties were selected. These all had a colour temperature of 3000K which best complements an historic environment.
Tower lighting…. As the name might suggest, the tower is highly visible from the surrounding area. Internally a fabulous spiral staircase ascends to the higher levels of the tower. Located at the base of this are a number of spotlights. A set is used to light the artwork which is to be located at the bottom of the tower. A second set of spotlights are used to light into the staircase void, reflecting light from the interior surfaces, to visually lift the interior.
The Belvedere offers fantastic views across the surrounding area. To light this space a simple ring of light has been introduced, wrapping around the staircase enclosure. Not only does this light the space but it additionally offers a view in from the outside adding a further presence for the tower at night.
The tower Lantern and its splendid architectural elements, and opulent golden finish, cap the tower beautifully, offering the perfect canvas for an overhauled lighting scheme. A combination of spotlights and linear LED luminaires highlight the columns and timber panelling, with a number of internal lighting elements subtlety adding layers to the external view of the lantern. An existing fibre optic lighting system, located around the edge of the lantern roof, was replaced to ensure the newly painted golden roof is shown in all its glory, whilst reducing the need for maintenance at the most inaccessible part of the Tower.
The newly excavated grotto tunnel was a very exciting addition to Beckford’s Tower. This formed part of the route used by William Beckford, allowing him to access his tower without being seen, it proved an interesting challenge for the designers.
A new set of stairs leading to the tunnel has been introduced and built. Small LED luminaires were located in the handrail, sensitively lighting the visitor route after dark. The handrail luminaires provide very directional lighting, ensuring there is limited spill light onto the surrounding area.
Within the Grotto Tunnel itself, small external projectors are used to wash light up the walls, emphasizing the texture of the structure and subtly lighting the space.