Lock, Stock & Barrel lighting control
Published: MEA
UAE: Complementing the TW Audio sound solution at Lock, Stock & Barrel in Dubai’s Grand Millennium Hotel is a lighting system controlled via an MA Lighting console. ArchiLX lighting designer Ben Rogers specified the setup, which controls both the lighting for shows and performances, as well as the standard architectural lights and comprises a dot2 XL-B console running on an Art-Net based network.
‘I have been programming MA consoles for the last nine years,’ explained Mr Rogers. ‘The new software platform and industrial build of the dot2 provided a perfect product for this installation – combining the power and flexibility of the grandMA2 series in an intuitive, accessible and compact form.’
The venue is split between two levels, occupying the eighth and ninth floors of the hotel. It features two bars, a stage for live music performances and 11 screens throughout that entertain patrons with live sport.
‘The venue’s design is very theatrical with lots of industrial textures, real brick and reclaimed timber elements with an analogue feel, so the lighting design needed to enhance and reflect that,’ noted Mr Rogers. ‘We needed a robust control solution to handle a wide variety of fixture types – including the architectural light sources – as well as to deal with the venue’s weekly schedule, which transitions between an after work hang-out to live music venue, a kicking club vibe or a first class sports bar.
‘Fixture choices included LED filament replacement lamps through to platinum series moving heads, all of which the dot2 handles with ease. We use moving head LED beam units as table lighting within the architectural package. There are lights in every cove and all across the 10m high ceiling which includes a feature wall made of 600 individually illuminated beer bottles,’ Mr Rogers continued. ‘The intuitive control from the dot2 allows us to perfect the colour mixes and establish a warm inviting atmosphere that works with the natural tones of the construction materials and finishes.’
Lock, Stock & Barrel’s operators are also in a position to add further lighting fixtures should they wish, as the console provides the flexibility to do so. ‘I wanted an adaptable network-based solution with easy programming and expandable control. Although we have over 80 automated fixtures and more than 800 LED pixels there is still space on the console for future expansion,’ concluded Mr Rogers. ‘The venue is a unique design conceived by the team at Solutions Leisure and designed and built by Broadway Interiors. Guests generally enter for the first time and their jaws drop! It’s audacious and yet still unpretentious.’