Arts by the Sea Festival | Bournemouth, UK

Moving beyond traditional lighting design, we merged architecture, materials, sound, video, and light to create five interactive light installations. While our lighting design consultancy would typically collaborate with architects and other design disciplines, for a project of this type, we reversed the usual process. Instead of designing lighting around existing architecture, we allowed the lighting concept to dictate the design of the architecture and materials, ensuring that the light experience took centre stage.

Our aim for this interactive lighting experiences was to create a bold, interactive design that was deeply connected to its location — Bournemouth Seafront. To achieve this, we reimagined the traditional beach hut, giving it a contemporary twist. Each hut featured a unique interior with diverse lighting concepts, exploring the creative potential of light.

The HipPODrome

Covered entirely in chrome cladding, this pod was filled with 40 rotating disco balls, strobes, colour-changing floodlights, fog machines, and even a DJ booth with amplifiers. Located amidst the dense trees of the lower gardens, it created a sense of discovery. When activated, the space came alive with vibrant colour, light, and sound, offering an unforgettable sensory experience.

Colour Intensity

This installation invited visitors to play with red, green, and blue colour mixing. At first, guests entered what appeared to be a plain white hut, but as they interacted, they discovered the joy of creating colourful shadow puppets. Simple, cost-effective, and thought-provoking, this installation appealed to all ages while subtly educating visitors about the science of light.

Tidal Waves

Using bit-mapped projections on a specially designed three-dimensional surface, this installation mimicked the movement of sea waves. Initially appearing as a flat surface, the projections evolved to reveal the form beneath, creating a distorted and mesmerising experience that played with viewers’ perceptions.

Optical World

Inside a mirrored pod, a three-dimensional curtain of hanging fibres created an infinity effect. The fibres were sequenced to make the light appear to move in lines, back and forth. This highly Instagrammable installation invited visitors to immerse themselves, resulting in countless social media photos shared across platforms.

The Lounge

Resembling a beach hut with collapsed sides, this installation featured a frame constructed entirely of light. Sequenced colour effects enhanced the tranquil setting, making it the perfect chill-out zone. Positioned on the beach, it quickly became the festival’s iconic installation, appearing in numerous publicity shoots and press features.

The Lost Light project was instrumental in helping the Arts by the Sea Festival win the ‘Best Evening Experience Award’ at the Bournemouth Tourism Awards. It was also shortlisted for various Lighting Design Awards and later refurbished and adapted for the Gardens of Light Festival.