Munro creates light sculpture for ZSL London Zoo

A Bruce Munro product story

Edited by the Interiorstalk editorial team Feb 23, 2010

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has commissioned lighting designer Bruce Munro to create an installation for a new space at ZSL London Zoo.

Munro's piece is due to be installed in a staircase area of the Clore Rainforest Building.

This image shows a Munro project using random lengths of optic fibre with clear teardrop diffusers. This is intended to provide an impression of how the new Twilight Shower installation at ZSL London Zoo might look

The staircase will become a third space, joining the rainforest area above to the downstairs nightlife area below.

Munro's Twilight Shower installation, which will take advantage of the height and width available, is intended to create a shower of light.

It will be a permanent installation, created with strong materials to high electrical lighting standards.

A double-height staircase is said to be the ideal opportunity for a light sculpture to prepare the visitors for the night-zone experience, taking them from the active bustle of the daylight exhibit to the quiet, still, nightlife area.

Suspended from above in the stairwell, the Twilight Shower consists of 12 interconnected ceiling plinths, spanning 6.25m.

Hanging from these panels will be a total of 864 optic fibres, each ending in a clear teardrop diffuser.

The piece will cascade down the stairwell with a maximum drop of 500mm, illuminated by two 150W metal-halide projectors, which will offer the option to change colours.

The 12V projectors will be positioned in a remote location.