ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor

ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - SteelArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Stairs, Handrail, SteelArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Image 4 of 26ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Image 5 of 26ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - More Images+ 21

Text description provided by the architects. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the first public artwork by Anish Kapoor to be lit. Arup’s lighting team has worked closely with Kapoor and Cecil Balmond to create a lighting scheme that will highlight the sculpture’s complex geometric form.

ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Image 8 of 26
© Gautier Deblonde

The feature lighting scheme encourages visitors into the Park and the ArcelorMittal Orbit by creating a "must see" element to the sculpture at night. The scheme will play an integral part in the lighting and atmosphere of the Olympic Games with the sculpture lit up in a variety of modes for different events and times of day. Beyond The Games, visitors will also experience the metaphor of an orbit after dark; using light to unravel the sculpture’s convoluted form and to grasp its dynamic shape. Arup Lighting Director Florence Lam refers to their approach as using "dark light".

ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Beam, Steel
© Gautier Deblonde

Sustainability has been a critical factor in Arup’s thinking. Arup Lighting's choice of saturated red LED (light emitting diode) lighting accentuates the bespoke red specified by Kapoor for the sculpture.  The lighting scheme achieves maximum theatrical visual impact yet consumes less energy than white light. LEDs emit zero UV light, which would otherwise disturb wild-life in the vicinity, for example, moths and bats.

ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Image 15 of 26
© Gautier Deblonde

Arup's lighting designers, structural engineers and the architects collaborated closely to ensure that the light projectors are all discreetly located within the structure and carefully focused and aimed to minimise light spill onto the ecologically sensitive area of the river corridor and limit sky glow.

ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Image 18 of 26
© ArcelorMittal

Sophisticated lighting software, RADIANCE, was employed to analyse and predict the lighting distribution over the sculpture and its surroundings to ensure full compliance with the ODA lighting strategy.

ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Steel
© ArcelorMittal

Arup’s Electrical and Mechanical Engineers worked with the firm’s lighting designers to integrate all services in a way that has ensured that all cables and wirings are invisible.

ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor - Cityscape
© ArcelorMittal

The result is a cohesive, energy efficient and aesthetically attuned lighting project demonstrating how artists and engineers can collaborate creatively and effectively on major, and challenging artworks in public spaces. 

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Address:Olympics B+B, Omega Works, 4 Roach Rd, London, Greater London E3 2LX, UK

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About this office
Cite: "ArcelorMittal Orbit / Anish Kapoor" 30 Jul 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/257842/arcelormittal-orbit-anish-kapoor-cecil-balmond> ISSN 0719-8884

© ArcelorMittal

阿赛洛米塔尔轨道 / Anish Kapoor

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