Project Showcase

The Oval Basin is the focal point of a prestigious square in front of the Millennium Centre, which forms part of the magnificent Cardiff Bay area. We recently supplied a new LED lighting scheme to enhance the appeal of the space.
Cardiff Bay sits overlooking the sea at the end of the new boulevard linking it to the city centre. The Oval Basin is overlooked by the National Assembly of Wales, the Wales Millennium Centre and other landmark public buildings. The project has proved to be a great success, and it is now a destination for tourists and a gathering place for large public events.
Along the sides of the Basin there are arcs of broad steps which create an informal square which works well as an amphitheatre. This makes the basin suitable for many different events, including concerts. The area also has a claim to fame, as it was used as the filming location for the BBC's programme Torchwood.

Background

Sitting on the floor of the Basin are 18 lighting columns, which are placed to follow the same arc as the steps. These tower majestically 12m into the air, dominating the space. We supplied 36 of our Noctis 225 LED units to light the columns around the Basin. Each Noctis unit contains 18 LEDs, made up of a ring of six and another of 12. Each unit has an angled lens offset to 15o, allowing the full height of the columns to be lit-up at night. Each LED unit has a DMX controller initially pre-programmed with nine different lighting programmes.
Each unit has the capability of providing any colour within the visible range, programmed to change in sequence, or individually. They can also go through the full spectrum of colour change at differing phases, cycles and speeds.
This project has created awareness of the positive impact that effective LED lighting can have on a public space. As a result of this project, a number of other successful schemes using Urbis’ Noctis LED units with colour change DMX control have sprung up in Wales. Places worth visiting are Rydycar in Merthyr Tydfil, where a sculpture on the roundabout is now lit up and also the Sculpture centred on the roundabout in Nelson, Caerphilly County Borough.

Luminaires Used

• Noctis 225