The Royal Opera HouseLondon

Kemps was approached with a brief by lighting design studio, StudioFractal, for the Royal Opera House back in April 2016.

The brief was part of a £50.7 million redevelopment project to transform the historic building, opening up the entrances and adding a brand new theatre. As the sole lighting designers on the project, StudioFractal’s requirement was significant.

Image credit: Photography by ©James Newton

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The brief

They provided Kemps with designs for a series of lighting fixtures. Our task was to turn the concept into a working LED luminaire, the starting point of which was a bespoke aluminium LED profile.

These fixtures were to be installed in locations including the bar, gift shop and stairways. Many of the fixtures were recessed, so needed to be created to precise dimensions to ensure a seamless integration into the building.

The installation

We adapted the aluminium profile to include additional features, such as a small LED pcb with optics to softly illuminate the slatted bar ceiling and the illuminated solid acrylic pendant.

Playfords Electrical was contracted to complete the installation, with Kemps on-site to assist with fitting the staircase lighting. In total, we supplied 80 metres of the bespoke profile for the bar area, 21 metres for the shop and a further 28 bespoke fittings were created for the stairs.

This was a long but hugely rewarding process and the results speak for themselves. The refurbished building is bright, elegant and has retained all of its original charm. The lighting scheme emphasises the seamless blending of old and new, with features like the bespoke stairway lighting adding a touch of unique luxury.

Want to work with us on your next lighting design? Get in touch via info@kempslighting.com or call us 0113 263 9039.