In Lumine Tuo,
Utrecht, Netherlands

Light allows allow the building to become a living breathing entity, able to communicate their memories to each other and to the people, recalling the layers of history that have defined the city.
Client
City of Utrecht
Art Consultant
Marijke Jansen
Project Manager
Kees Van De Lagemaat
City Engineer
Arthur Klink
Photographer
James Newton
Project Team
Keith Bradshaw, Mark Major, Benz Roos, Iain Ruxton

On Thursday 11 April 2013 our unique light installation, In Lumine Tuo, was switched on by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix to officially open the celebrations for the tri-centenary of the Treaty of Utrecht.


Our idea began as an abstract view of these elements as valued members of society within the context of the city and dealings with our contemporary understanding of the history of Utrecht through the analogies of Body, Communication, Memories, Life.


The light for the Cathedral is subtle and comes from within, with the outside faces kept relatively dark creating a lantern effect. Conversely, the Tower, visible from many parts of the city, is the dynamic showpiece. As the communicator of the narrative it is illuminated in a dramatic style to set off the gothic architecture.

“
Light would allow them to become living breathing entities, able to communicate their memories to each other and to the people, recalling the layers of history that have defined the city. Character, historical and cultural significance informed our approach to each element.”

We designed the static image of the piece to be breathtaking, but the true nature of the piece is revealed every fifteen minutes when, in time with the Tower’s clock, a light sequence begins. The three elements begin to slowly ‘breathe’ in unity, light establishing the connection between them. The play of light accelerates and memories, represented as bursts of light, appear to ascend the Dom tower through the arch, balconies and bell tower. The sequence culminates just before the striking of the clock with a finale in the lantern, where the memories cluster and multiple flashes of light and shadow are unleashed to the sound of the pealing of bells.


For this commission-winning concept, we used light as a narrative tool to connect the iconic 14th Century 112m high Dom Tower with neighbouring Dom Church (St Martin’s Cathedral) and Dom Square in an entrancing tableau.