Ledtek Lighting commissioned Bigg Design to design, 3D model, and visualise the lighting scheme and bespoke lanterns for this renowned church located in one of the most beautiful and historically important areas in the Highlands of Scotland.
Placed at the head of Loch Shiel, the church overlooks the Glenfinnan monument (marking the site where ‘Bonny Prince Charlie’ raised the standard and rallied his clansmen for the final Jacobite Rising) as well as the noted McAlpine Viaduct (of Harry Potter film fame). Situated on the ‘Road to the Isles’, the church witnesses thousands of visitors each year, from casual tourists, to visitors with ancestral roots, as well as the local parishioners.
Before works began, there was sparse (and mainly broken) lighting, which drastically limited the usability of the church. Due to the inaccessible height of the building, maintaining the original lighting was very difficult and it often became neglected. The building is also listed and due to it’s historic nature presented a series of challenges for any installation of works.
The resulting scheme not only celebrates the church, it’s features and it’s historic and scenic context, but is highly practical, creating an ultra-low maintenance lighting system with very low energy and running costs.
During the design phase, Bigg Design surveyed and created a 3D digital model of the church and designed and visualised feature lighting concepts that would be aesthetically suitable for the historical context, whilst also highlighting the building’s wonderful architectural details and important relics.
Using a combination of hidden light sources and custom-made lanterns that took reference from the church’s stained glass windows, the church has been completely transformed and had it’s architectural features brought to life.
Outside, the original lampposts were recommissioned with LEDs and gentle floodlighting now washes the beautiful exterior walls, statues and crosses. Spotlights from within also illuminate the fantastic stained glass windows.