Lighting in the Council Chamber by Kevan Shaw lighting design
Sponsored LinksLighting in the Council Chamber is provided by period brass chandeliers and matching wall lights. These fixtures are original, and have listed status as part of the interior fabric. Restoration of the fittings was undertaken by a specialist company and involved down-taking of the fixtures, removal from site to the workshop, full dis-assembly and stripping back, polishing, re-lacquering, reassembly and rewiring. New hand-blown diamond cut acorn glass shades were manufactured. These replica shades were based on a single surviving shade found in the building, and archive photographs. The intention was to restore the fittings as far as possible to their original appearance; this push for historical accuracy also influenced lamp selection.
The lamps used in the period fixtures in the Chamber were originally incandescent. The decision was made to use Osram Energy Saver halogen GLS replacement lamps in the restored fittings. These offer improved life and greater efficacy over standard incandescent lamps, while retaining the warmth, good colour rendering and dimmability so important in the Chamber. In addition, the nature of the glass shade needs the point source of the filament to add sparkle and reveal the prismatic quality of the diamond cut glass.





