A tribute to architect Daniel Burnham, who is credited with drafting the first master plan for Chicago 100 years ago, includes two temporary pavilions designed by two of today’s leading architects, each lit with Iluminarc architectural lighting fixtures. The pavilions, in Chicago’s Millennium Park, were designed by Amsterdam-based Ben van Berkel and Zaha Hadid of London and lit by LD Tracey Dear of Dear Productions.
Since they opened this summer, thousands have visited Berkel’s high gloss structure with three scoop-like supports and Hadid’s pavilion, which uses a silver-gray tent fabric to cover a 7,000-piece aluminum structure, with oblong slits along the top, which function as skylights.
For Berkel’s pavilion, Dear specified 21 Ilumipod 18 and 54 Ilumipod 36 IP Optic RGB units. They are embedded in the floor of the pavilion and respond to an automated control system that triggers changes in hues and intensity depending on where people stand.
For Hadid’s pavilion, Dear also used Ilumipod 18 and Ilumipod 36 IP Optic RGB lights to illuminate the “fluid form” that is at the heart of that pavilion, designed by the only woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
“It was our intent to make Hadid’s pavilion warm while van Berkel’s is more playful,” Dear said. Hadid’s fabric was very porous, “so it does soak up the color, whereas van Berkel’s pavilion has a reflective finish to bounce the light between the two surfaces” of the floor and roof, Dear added. Hadid’s pavilion is lit with “dark, saturated complementary colors” for a more futuristic look, vs. pastels for van Berkel’s pavilion.
“To have the opportunity to illuminate these historic pavilions by two of the most-recognized living architects is an honor,” said Jamey Brock, director of sales at Chauvet and head of global sales for Iluminarc. “When Tracey Dear called and asked if we were ready, I did not hesitate, and our team responded remarkably."
