NIKE Concept 1
Europe

Client
Nike Europe BV

 

Architect
Mark Roche Associates
020 7792 0233

 

M&E Consultants
Flack + Kurtz (UK) Inc
020 7494 2441

 

Main Contractors
Cheshire Contracts
0161 273 6253
TTS Shopfitters
0161 301 1272

 

Electrical Contractors
Maplewood Services
01942 842328
A Andrews
0161 430 3996

 

Lighting Designers
Mark Roche Associates
0207 792 0233
Flack + Kurtz (UK) Inc
0207 409 7565

 

Product used
415 x VM300/12
83 x VM400/12

The overall project brief to Mark Roche was to create something that supported and promoted Nike’s brand values as much as the product. Mindful that lighting plays a crucial role in the realisation of outstanding retail design, there were three key aspects to the lighting brief: drama, quality of light and increased lamp-life.

Brief
To realise a scheme that created ‘theatre’ or ‘drama’ through the use of chiaroscuro. This resulted in the use of ambient lighting on the ‘walk-throughs’ within the shop, and accent lighting on the merchandise.

To have all the merchandise lit in the most attractive and stimulating way. This inevitably led to the use of low-voltage tungsten halogen lighting, because all parties concerned felt that low-voltage is still the only real choice with its brilliance, sparkle and superior colour rendition.

 

To achieve ‘stabilised-voltage’ at the source and thus significantly increase lamp-life. This in turn would ensure that maintenance, and the attendant cost of lamp replacement, was kept to an absolute minimum – traditionally not an easy matter to achieve with low-voltage, particularly using a common system across Europe, with variable mains voltage levels.

 

Outstanding success
“Constant, stabilised voltage levels are the key to extended lamp-life”, says Anshu Srivastava, of Mark Roche Associates. “As the third objective dictated that lamp-failure, or indeed transformer failure, had to be eliminated in order to preserve the effect and to keep maintenance to the absolute minimum, VoltMaster was crucial – and has proven to be an outstanding success. VoltMaster’s role in this has been shown to be as much about sound economics as conceptual brilliance.”

 

“We’re certainly very impressed with what VoltMaster has given us” says Del Monteiro of Flack + Kurtz. “Low-voltage tungsten halogen offers such good quality light, yet has always suffered from surge currents and other problems that lead to poor lamp-life. VoltMaster really does seem to have turned the corner. Of course it is more expensive than a standard transformer, but the long-term benefits of extended lamp-life and reduced maintenance are substantial. This can be measured not just in terms of cost, but in the value to the client of consistent, durable light-levels accenting their merchandise to the best possible effect.”

“Of couse it is more expensive than a standard transformer, but the long-term benefits of extended lamp-life and reduced maintenance are substantial.”

Del Monterio
Flack + Kurtz