LUXO - lighting in a class of its own...

Steven Nixon Associates specified a range of luminaires from Luxo, providing a solution that is sympathetic to the environmentally sensitive design for a new school in Kent.

When building services consultants, Steven Nixon Associates designed an unusual lighting scheme for the new St Augustine's Primary School in Kent they specified a range of luminaires from Luxo, providing a solution that is sympathetic to the environmentally sensitive design of the school itself.

The new school is a stunning, single storey structure which has replaced an earlier three-storey 1960s design.

Designed to blend with the coastal landscape, it uses low profiles and natural materials to complement its surroundings.

This environmental awareness is also reflected in the internal design of the school, where high ceilings and large amounts of daylight create a feeling of space.

It was important, therefore, that the lighting scheme recreated this brightness, without glare.

In classrooms, where interactive whiteboards are used extensively, it was also important to avoid reflections on the boards.

Uplighting was selected throughout the classrooms and the main hall, using a number of products from Luxo's Silvy range including pendant and wall mounted versions.

These meet the criteria of providing bright ceilings with no glare, while minimising the contrast between the daylight ambience and the artificially lit ambience.

At the same time, the style of the Silvy luminaire complements the wave form shape of the building and its coastal setting.

To help the pupils find their way around the school, classrooms have been colour coded and this concept has been enhanced by special modifications to Luxo's Venicon pendant luminaires used in the corridors.

These have been fitted with edge-lit Perspex strips in different colours to match the colours of the classrooms.

To complement the large porthole windows in the schools' corridors and galleries, circular shaped Sinus luminaires were installed Compact fluorescent and T5 linear light sources have been widely used throughout the school to provide high energy efficiency with long life and low maintenance requirements.

Back to top