![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FLSQLondon-Make-7-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=9bd7cdfd00f1884d98bb68c65d8200d0 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FLSQLondon-Make-7-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=561&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=9e70a1d857f0bcda6daf4d199582aa41 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FLSQLondon-Make-7-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1025&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=9f86cc8900af41915a70842c883412f5 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FLSQLondon-Make-7-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1367&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=229da75e69fb9982a997d00c4e81e6c2 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FLSQLondon-Make-7-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1869&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=85a1723ace4fac943b1c4e3f47cdeae1 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FLSQLondon-Make-7-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2136&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=d50f0677d4efdafebf7bdc2d5f3c7643 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FLSQLondon-Make-7-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2563&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=61613e0ec555121381a238c2ab72ea35 1920w)
The model
It can be hard to communicate lighting effects via sketches and renders, and it wasn’t until we made a working model of the installation that the wider design team started to understand its potential and the qualities of the light and materials. The model showed aspects that were otherwise difficult to simulate, like the warm molten-like glow of the metal catching adjacent lights and the animation of the undulating form when the observer’s perspective shifts.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-4.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=140&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=ea2a131db15c0af21cbb43c26405d26d 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-4.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=3a6add53deb8baa37323e5196db417d4 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-4.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=512&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=114b2d42d34272154becf6d4d32cf322 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-4.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=683&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=0995ea85d76d4b959f189dae4d20f79b 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-4.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=933&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=31f8d336467eca4ba90816d19b564d8f 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-4.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1067&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=89fa81d889496f8cd61df0a6b8f55f11 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-4.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1280&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=388ac0eff9c95e312dd3315ca0baf532 1920w)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=272&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=36432cd857ce147b4be7624981636c84 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=543&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=cd1d811b10238715c8578f675db6ab08 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=994&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=026f02396fbeca14caf68b35ac45ee95 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1325&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=0e07b8de789331cacca4bb31a1ff40c1 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1812&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=1f4ed365cb490117ac1c2ba9dc5fa7c4 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2070&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=08f43e3f0fac4c24b0d7ee49a8a007b7 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-5.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2484&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=2c997ff1e62a04dba771f7913be6eafd 1920w)
The model was at 1:1 scale based on an initial system of fibre optic splays from light projectors, each strand of which was to be threaded through an individual metal tube. The model replicates this with 5mm-diameter plastic tubes, sprayed with a metallic copper colour paint, at 30mm spacings. In total, the model used 27.5m of tubes. Fibre optics were considered, as they allow the light source to be distant from where the output is observed, bringing maintenance benefits. The model represents about 1.2% of the overall area of the final installation.
The model allowed the client and design team to make informed decisions about the final scale, form and finish of the installation. Once Mindseye, a specialist lighting designer, joined the project, the system changed to LED with larger tubes with a longer, more uniform drop and increased spacing between the tubes.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=159&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=bca5658aad3c53d94496d42aaec3c018 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=317&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=5d731c51d1517f36f4564f230f4123ad 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=580&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=ed35f1163facc8f955330a2d51751f82 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=773&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=e5a6a77d8ed6267147772c9a9604226b 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1057&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=556367b086e128a255944dce5602487d 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1209&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=eeb2aa6b013da93a2bf56c6bccbc2866 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-6.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1450&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=a275ed62f48b05f2e41298da8b8ac260 1920w)
The outcome
The final installation comprised 1,820 bronze anodised aluminium rods. It reads as an undulating canopy of delicate lights suspended across the ceiling void, above which the varying lengths of richly bronze-coloured tubes glimmer in shadow, exaggerating perspective and further accentuating the height of the space.
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FLSQLondon_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=215&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=9d6ec1336e7c3823a114c45eecd9c22a 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FLSQLondon_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=430&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=81a309137df0e60cf5bd65640088e969 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FLSQLondon_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=786&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=80a8682a0682139b16739df9a9ff568f 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FLSQLondon_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1049&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=a9020a698e051a9bc3c2a39546e15bad 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FLSQLondon_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1434&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=7d999deec70b2f03ead4fb3de231283e 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FLSQLondon_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1638&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=5287661bf9288f8e4f8bbc41fe36cb9c 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FLSQLondon_Make-7.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1966&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=546e7c83cafea6fd2f107c2362f16c59 1920w)
![#](https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=315&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=210&s=4eea2e5026f01c384fd5d7e6c1877b55 210w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=630&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=420&s=77e1dfc8a9cfa8a0cf289584c7a82082 420w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1151&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=768&s=b73102bcff1cafb238fc92c566767f6e 768w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=1535&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1024&s=f6c823a6fb3c01f4903976dda07279ea 1024w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2099&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1400&s=cc4294010e4ff6cbcfcde06afba139c5 1400w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2399&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1600&s=9e9264294352ab47759a81c53b296f40 1600w,https://make-arch.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makearchitects.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FLSQLondon-Make-1.jpg?auto=format&crop=center&fit=crop&h=2879&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=1920&s=9656f689ad72d7003d043b65b4386b0a 1920w)