The Kelpies are the star attraction at the new Helix Park development in Falkirk. The two 300 tonne equine sculptures stand close on 100 feet high, dominating the skyline for miles around. Lightfolio was tasked with illuminating both the setting and the sculptures themselves in order that the public space can be enjoyed after dark by the staggering number of visitors and local people alike who now inhabit the space on a daily basis.
The lighting for the Kelpies both inside and out is based upon the outcome of lighting trials that took place some 7 years before on a set of models that stood just 3 metres high. The artist, Andy Scott, had a clear vision of how the horses should look and feel when lit and it was our job to translate that vision into a workable reality.
In order to do this we employed both wireless LED colour change lighting for the internal spaces and more traditional metal halide floodlights in specially designed 'light pits' for the exterior modelling.
The kinetic nature of the internal lighting breathes life into these massive creatures after dark, creating the impression that they are alive, gatekeepers of the canal lock that they flank, majestic and resplendent, welcoming visitors to the Helix.
The Hub area surrounding the Kelpies is lit with a combination of bollards and LED colour change floods on columns that respond to the changes in the internal lighting of the Kelpie's themselves.
