Quadrant Arcade: A Luminary Revival of Heritage

Designer Cehao Yu's Award-Winning Lighting Installation in London's Regent Street

The Quadrant Arcade, a jewel of The Crown Estate on Regent Street, has been brought to life through a unique lighting design by Cehao Yu. Inspired by the paraboloid, Yu created a mathematically generated quadrant in three dimensions using linear lights to achieve an overall curve. The cluster of pendants creates a sweep along the whole length of the arcade, reflecting the iconic historical forms of the arcade.

What sets this design apart is its ability to revitalize a historical shopping environment. The intelligent control system allows for an interaction between architectural ambient lighting and the theatrical feature pendant, creating a unique rhythm reflective of the West End. As daylight falls, the installation gains more attention, attracting visitors with its visible dynamics.

Yu's design was realized through the use of various lighting elements divided into groups that can be individually controlled. This offers different light scenarios whose performance corresponds to the movement of feature pendants. Emergency lighting has been discretely recessed into the underside of the cornice to limit visibility and meet statutory norms. The terrazzo flooring, inspired by tiles from Pompeii, provides visual drama under uneven lighting.

Despite the temporal dynamism of ambient lighting, light levels have been achieved according to British Standards. The sustainability-led lighting design approach for Quadrant Arcade targets delivery of an ‘Excellent’ rating against the BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fit Out 2014 methodology. This design has been tagged with keywords such as visual navigation, heritage illumination, dynamic lighting, and visual interest.

The ethereal quality of the structure is accentuated at dusk by concealed and carefully aimed light elements. The contrast between warm, ambient lighting and cool, dynamic feature pendants provide a strong focus in supporting the artistic vision. The high output and efficacy of new fittings were key in resolving the challenge to provide sufficient ambient light to the space with the variable intensity of the feature pendant.

The project started in March 2015 in London and finished in Feb. 2019 in London, and was awarded the Lit Lighting Design Awards heritage illumination category winner. The design involves site appraisal, conservation planning, lighting planning application, computer-based lighting simulation, and on-site mock up to ensure the finished visual appearance is close to initial aspiration. The final lit appearance has increased the spatial usage dramatically, especially during nighttime. Street users passing by are tend to stop over to appreciate the public space and bespoke pendant art.

The Grade II listed arcade has been transformed into an inviting street presence through arranging the right light at the right place. General, ambient illumination is used holistically and its effects staged hierarchically to achieve variations in light patterning that create interest and promote increased use of the space. The strategic incorporation for design and placement of the dynamic feature pendent was managed together with the artist so that visual effects appear more subtle than overwhelming. With daylight fading, the elegant structure is accentuated by the rhythm of electric lighting.

This Design was awarded Golden in A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2020. Golden A' Design Award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.