Lighting in Design Q2 2023

The process; from initial design to casting.

Locally manufacturing a fitting with international quality standards The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is an iconic 123-hectare precinct that welcomes millions of people from all over the continent and the world, but have you ever noticed the traditional fittings populated all over this prominent landmark?

I n the late 1980s, The V&A Waterfront set the standards by importing over 300 amenity lights to install around the perimeters of the Water front before the grand opening in November 1988. These nautical-styled luminaires soon became a significant feature of the V&A brand. In 2023, 35 years after the initial installation of the fittings, the lighting technology was obsolete and the fixtures were deteriorating; it was time for an upgrade. The V&A Waterfront has a policy of support ing positive social, economic, and environmental change, and approached Regent Lighting to pro vide an upgraded African lighting solution for this

historical precinct. The Regent Lighting Solutions (RLS) design department accepted the challenge of developing a traditional product that stays visually consistent with the previous design but harvests all the new technological advances that have become available. To get the main components of the body, the manufacturing processes included aluminium gravi ty die casting, metal spinning, vacuum forming, and even hot dip galvanising to locally manufacture a fitting with international quality standards. RLS, in collaboration with Wahl Aluminium, was able to design, machine, and use the 3-part gravity casting die with a sand core to shape the intricate internal details and attain the required structural strength. Because the fittings are mounted onto the side walks, the RLS858 lens was installed to maximise the asymmetrical light distribution onto the roads and pedestrian walkways. Step-dimming functions were implemented on each fitting to allow for fluc tuating output levels throughout the night, saving electricity and extending the LED lifecycle. In addition to supplying the Victoria light fixture, RLS was also able to assist the V&A Waterfront with replacing the mounting brackets. Once again,

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LiD Q2 - 2023