Original Rendering of Northern California Church Opened in 1886
We are fortunate to have public buildings representing historic past with us today. These were designed and built prior to any national or local building codes were in place. It is an honor to execute the interior design and lighting design as a part of the team tasked with insuring building is fit to serve the health, safety and welfare of its occupants for another century and beyond.
Hand Drawn Chandelier Rendering, Courtesy of Boyd Lighting
Originally designed to hold candles, this Gothic Design of a church chandelier, created in the early years of the 20th century, was typical of the period. In fact, the archives of the original church fixtures and fittings were lost in a fire in 1917, caused by candles used for light, rendering the wood-framed structure to burn to ashes. After we searched though boxes of old tissue drawings, this design was found and deemed most likely to have been similar to what was used in the original church.
Recreation of Gothic Chandelier Design to Conform to Current Codes
To properly light a 1,000 seat church using current LED code requirements and controls, a completely custom chandelier had to be designed to support the technology, while providing essentially the same Gothic design elements, scale and beauty. The U.S. based hospitality lighting manufacturer had both the expertise to develop the design to comply with the requirements, and the team to execute the elaborate metal work. The new chandelier fits seamlessly into place, while providing a power house of light, in the most energy-efficient way.
Utilize the Existing Architectural Elements to Advantage
While the barrel vault ceiling and clearstory stained glass windows were an established part of the original architectural design, they were not enhanced by electrical lighting, whereby on cloudy days and evening services they were barely visible. By adding energy-efficient color balanced lighting, this important design feature is on constant display, and the sense of height and grandeur of the space is fully revealed.
Make a Connection With People Using a Building and Its Architecture
While the pews are separate from the columns, pilasters and wood-defined arches, aligning them all with the same color creates a sense of connection to these elements, which is especially important in a religious building’s interior.
Details Create Value
To be asked to have reverence for a sacred building, the building must ask that without speaking. The attention to detail, and enhancement of specific design elements, particularly at the pairs of entrance doors to a church, speak volumes before and as one enters the building. These design elements are over 100 years old and have been restored and brought back to life.