Lighting technology specialist Nulty has completed the installation of a kinetic lighting design at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.
A live link feeds the system meteorological data enabling it to mirror the activity of the Aurora Borealis in real time. The light show also flows at differing speeds and intensity according to passenger footfall within the terminal.
Deep saturated colors and intense movements occur at peak flow times, while subtler tones and more tranquil movements can be observed during quieter periods. By using the terminal ceiling as a blank canvas, the lighting installation has the flexibility to showcase other natural wonders and national events, such as Gay Pride, offering a glimpse into Iceland’s cultural identity through light.
The celestial lighting design spans the entire length of the terminal and relies on three key elements to recreate the color-rich horizon. This includes discrete RGBW luminaries fitted to the perforated ceiling structure; small white circular lights fitted to the intersection nodes; and dynamic white linear elements on the bulkheads recreating the horizon.
Daniel Blaker, creative director, Nulty, said, “In the food and beverage zones, indirect warm white linear light created a soft wash onto adjacent architectural details. In the retail spaces, crisp white uniform lines of illumination enhance the entrances.
“The lighting is deliberately dramatic but also functional, using shielded high-level LED sources to provide general lighting to the public space beneath.
“The height of the space is used as a strapline employing the drama of feature to draw the eye upwards, tying the whole airport together, irrespective of what area is beneath.”
