enlightenedThe Northern Lights Magazine

In this issue:

Hilton Baku’s Feature Lighting Relations with China Philips LED Lighting Working with Fused Glass Jamie’s Italian

Issue 1 Winter 2011

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Contents4101216182022

Project Focus:The Hilton Baku, Azerbaijan

Designer Profile:Jonathon Morgan - JMDA Interior Design

Production Focus:Jamie’s Italian, Islington - Feature Lighting

Supplier Spotlight:Philips’ New GU10 Dimming Technology

Factory Feature:An insight into Fused Glass

Technical Talking Point:Northern Lights in China

What’s New?:What’s up and coming from Northern Lights

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Welcometo this, the first one of whatwill be Northern Lights’quarterly magazine. It is ourintention to use this as avehicle to keep peopleinformed of what we aredoing in the commercialdecorative lighting market.

Each quarter we willshowcase a project which will

show the breadth of fittings supplied ormanufactured by Northern Lights. Thevariety is impressive, ranging from a smallwall light to a two tonne glass and steelchandelier. We also hope to use this featureto highlight the way we work with designers.In this issue we will be looking at the HiltonBaku in Azerbaijan.

A major part of what we do at NorthernLights is the manufacture of large bespokefittings. We have a team of lighting designerswho work closely with clients to producefittings that not only look stunning, areenergy efficient and built in the most cost-effective way. A major part of this designprocess is the production of detailedworkshop drawings and visuals. In eachedition of the magazine we will highlight onebespoke fitting and the processes that tookit from conception to realisation.

We also feel that it is important for you toknow as much as possible about ourmanufacturing capabilities. Each quarter wewill look at one aspect of our manufacturingin an effort to explain what is possible andwhat the limitations of any given processare.

Like all good companies, Northern Lightsvalues its suppliers, many of whom we havebeen dealing with for over 20 years. It isimportant to see your suppliers as partnersand to work closely with them. In this wayeverybody gains. We will use our magazineto let some of our suppliers tell you aboutwhat they do and what is new in the market.

Our factory is located just off junction 29 ofthe M1 in the market town of Chesterfield inDerbyshire. Customers who visit our factoryare always suprised and the comment “Ididn’t know you could do that!” is probablythe one we hear the most. We are alwaysaccused of not letting people know what wedo. Well that is about to change and thismagazine is the way we will do it. We hopeyou enjoy reading this and that you find itinformative.

John FlemingManaging DirectorNorthern Lights(Chesterfield) Ltd

Baku, AzerbaijanThe Hilton

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The Hilton Corporation built a new 300guestroom five-star Hotel inAzerbaijan which opened in the thirdquarter of 2011. Located on theCaspian Sea, Baku is considered thecountry’s centre of commerce,culture, art and tourism. ISR KapitalInvestments, a member of ISRHoldings and one of the largestholding companies in Azerbaijan, areit’s owners. Architectural designer DrKazim Ispahani of KM Architecture, aregular contributor to Baku’s fast-paced growing construction market,was responsible for the design of thebuilding with ara Design appointed toprovide the interior design and spaceplanning. ara have created a moderncontemporary interior with theaddition of some local flavours andinfluences. Director Harry Gregorysaid “We were extremely excited bythe brief and scope of works and knowthat this hotel is sure to become alandmark hotel in Baku”.

The new build, managed by Istanbul-based KMA Engineering andConsultancy, formed part of amultipurpose development situated ina prominent location close to the citycentre, business and shopping areas.The 26-storey hotel’s facilities includea spa and health club, a 2000m2

indoor swimming pool, a number ofspeciality restaurants, a revolvingrooftop bar and extensive conferenceand meeting rooms spread across twofloors.

ara Design is an international designpractice specialising in hospitality.Since 1996, when they wereestablished, they have providedcreative and innovative designs for

many successfully completed projectsacross the globe. ara Design hasworked with a number of luxurybranded hotel operators includingHilton, Hyatt, Movenpick, Conrad andShangri-La. ara’s philosophy is toprovide unique and original solutionsfor their clients’ individual needs -establishing identities, marketing goalsand brand development. ara offer anunderstanding of the importance ofabsorbing the culture and philosophyof the countries in which they workand have an appreciation of localaesthetics. ara have a team of young,dynamic designers who have a freshperspective and a wealth ofinternational experience, therebyproviding a full design service.

Northern Lights have worked closelywith ara on numerous internationalprojects realising their creative andinnovative lighting elements. HiltonBaku has been an exciting andchallenging project where NorthernLights had the responsibility for thedesign, development and manufactureof the unique, project specific bespokefront of house lighting pieces.

Because of the complexity of two ofthe ‘iconic’ chandelier types within thescheme, the main contractorcommissioned Northern Lights tocomplete full installation works ofthese pieces.

The chandelier within the atrium spacewas originally conceived as a lightingfeature which spanned all 26 floors.This was rationalised over the courseof the early stages of the project andconcluded as a 5m diametersuspended chandelier with a 7.5mtwo- tier drop of hand-crafted coloured

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glass shapes set at 15m above floorlevel. Northern Lights manufacturedthe chandelier at their factory inChesterfield, which provided theopportunity for all elements to bechecked for fit and function prior toshipping to site. Extensive consultationwith the main contractor over thecourse of the build ensured that thearchitectural structural supportingmechanics co-ordinated with thecorresponding chandelier fixings. Thesetting out, alignment and integrity ofthe support method required precisedetailed drawings and complexstructural calculations to ensure thechandelier location was accurate, leveland safe.

The ballroom features nine 1.8m x1.8m ceiling mounted chandeliers with3m crystal strings. Each chandelierhas a total of 656 crystal stringsequating to 32,800 hand-crimpedcrystals per chandelier - 295,200crystals for the series. Northern Lightswere provided with the on-sitestructural support details which thenhad to be interpreted into a lightingsub-frame for the chandelier, formingthe mechanical interaction betweenthe build structure and the chandelier.Northern Lights were employed toinstall and ‘dress’ all nine chandeliers,which involved the hanging 5,904crystal strings.

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Northern Lights manufactured23 unique bespoke featurelighting elements for theproject. All were exclusive toBaku and have originated fromara’s design office. NorthernLights’ design team providedthe facility to develop andengineer concepts, retaining theprincipal design intent anddesigner’s vision.

The following is an additionallist of feature lighting itemsmanufactured for Baku.

Presidential Suite Pendant OverDining Table:A 1.5m x 0.5m rectangularceiling plate with a randomdistribution of suspendeddecorative cast glass pieces.The glass shapes were customdesigned and cast as bespokepieces specific to the projectand pendant.

The clear glasses are illuminatedby LED lamp units recessedwithin the ceiling plate,producing an array of sparklinghighlights. This creates animpressive centrepiece to thesuite’s dining space.

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All Day Dining Pendant:A 1.6m diameter pendantconstructed as a handformed ‘basket’ framework,in-filled with randomlywound bronze wire to createa visually lightweight threedimensional form -Illumination from Philips 3WSES Novallure LED candlelamps.

All Day Dining Buffet Bar Pendant:A 2.5m x 1m x 0.6m highrectangular doughnut pendant withcoloured fused glass panels to theinner and outer faces.

Speciality Restaurant Pendant:A 1m diameter ceiling plate withsuspended black and bronzecoloured twisted glass shapes -illumination from a series of highpower 1.2W LED light modules

Speciality Restaurant Pendant:A 1.5m x 0.4m x 0.6m highrectangular pendant framework withhanging interlocking clear glasshoops - illumination from 12 no.Philips 3W SES Novallure LED candlelamps.

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JMDA’s Managing Director, Jonathon Morgan speaksabout his working relationship with Northern Lights

Working With...My career to date has been as a professionaldesigner in the Leisure Industry and for the past 17years, I have worked alongside some of the mostprestigious clients within the industry. I have beenfortunate enough to be involved in the design andrefurbishment of hotels, pubs, bars, nightclubs andvenues. This has enabled me to respond to clients’requirements and to meet the high expectationsthat we as professionals all strive to achieve.

Throughout my career I have always had anassociation with Northern Lights and over the yearshave developed a professional relationship withtheir internal and external salespeople and alsowith their design team. This collaboration hasworked very successfully. Northern Lights are alsorelatively close location-wise, enabling our team tohave a hands-on approach, calling in and discussingongoing projects face to face with the peopleconcerned. The factory visits are also essential,providing us with ideas and inspiration for otherprojects. This is vital as it helps our team toappreciate the manufacturing capabilities ofNorthern Lights which has led to numeroussuccessful products. We also pick up ideas /inspiration / samples that spark the creative juicesfor forthcoming projects by reviewing items that areactually going through the manufacturing process.

Whether it is a contemporary remodelling oftraditional fittings or a quick turnaround, anovernight delivery to site or just simple inspirationfrom their reams of tried and tested ideas - there isalways a solution.

Recently JMDA have been involved in designinglarge bespoke fittings for The Chaophraya Groupalongside Northern Lights’ very creative designer,Neil Edmunds – who has really stretched theboundaries. The Chaophraya Group are veryforward-thinking and have allowed us to beimaginative with our design flair in developing greatnew ideas for their units. We are currentlyexercising our imagination cells by looking at futurebespoke fittings so watch out for that Jelly Fish lightthat could be landing near you shortly!

Fibre optic blue/white‘glowing tentacles’

Fibre opticprojector

opal perlatexskin

Jonathon MorganManaging DirectorJMDA

JamIt

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mie’salian New enquiries from designers and architects

arrive in many formats, from a sketchconcept to a detailed working drawing. Hereat Northern Lights we have the experience,technical knowledge and aestheticappreciation to take our clients’ origin ofdesign and realise their vision.

Following many innovative projects withBlacksheep we were presented with a newbespoke lighting concept for a Jamie’s ItalianRestaurant in Islington.

The Background

When Jamie's Italian was first conceived, thestarting point was to re-create what Italiansare most proud of - fantastic, rustic dishes,using recipes that have been tried, testedand loved!

But the aim was also to create anenvironment with a ‘neighbourhood’ feel,inspired by the ‘Italian table’ where peoplerelax, share, and enjoy each other'scompany. Jamie's Italian was designed to beaccessible and affordable, a place whereanyone is welcome and everyone will feelcomfortable, no matter how much you spendor how long you stay.

Blacksheep and Northern Lights - the perfect ingredientsfor Jamie’s Italian

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The Design Process

For the Islington restaurant Blacksheep’s creativeteam designed a dynamic lighting scheme, withthe key focus on two lighting elements. Togenerate visual presence and drama, Blacksheepproposed two statement chandeliers to definespaces within the restaurant. A geometric ‘lattice’tile, repeated over a series of vertical andhorizontal arrays formed the core principle of thechandeliers.

As with all our customers we liaise throughout theproject to ensure the engineering andmanufacturing principles we employ retain theirdesign intent.

Many factors drive product development:materials, finishes, scale, method of construction,lamp type selection and electrical integrity - allinfluence the process.

With Islington’s chandeliers the route tomanufacture was achieved by using individuallaser-cut steel panels, welded together to form anopen cube which was then repeated again andagain, with one cube being welded to the next. A time-consuming method of assembly, but onewhich displayed the ‘raw’ look that Blacksheeprequired. A total of 414 panels were used to form82 open cubes which completed two visuallycomplex chandelier structures. The chandelierswere finished as ‘blackened’ steel, demonstratinga rustic effect.

Blacksheep have delivered a fresh and uniquedesign approach to the interior spaces of Jamie’sItalians with each site having its own lightingidentity. Because Northern Lights offer an in-housedevelopment and manufacturing facility we canaccommodate and provide a truly bespokeproduction service.

The collaboration with Blacksheep continues withfurther Jamie’s Italians and additional new brandconcepts planned. These projects illustrate thatworking with Northern Lights can result in somevery spectacular lighting installations.

“Islington’s such afoodie part of Londonso it’s just perfect for Jamie’s Italianwhere our gorgeous,affordable Italianfood in a stunningsetting really doeshave something foreveryone” - Jamie Oliver

Initialsketched

idea

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Extra helpings of Jamie’s Italian feature lighting we’ve manufactured...

- Jamie’s Italian, Birmingham

Technicalillustrationsand working

drawings

- Jamie’s Italian, Westfield - Jamie’s Italian, Cheltenham

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Supplier Spotlight

To complement the existing range of GU10 LEDlamps, Philips is bringing a new innovation to themarket. Similar to other GU10 solutions in theportfolio, the new GU10 ‘DimTone’ is a 50 wattreplacement, with 7 watt energy consumption, butit contains a new special method of LED dimming.

Unique “DimTone” dimming

DimTone takes LED lamp dimming to an excitingnew level, creating a pleasant, warm ‘sunset’effect as the light is dimmed. Regular LED lampdimming reduces the intensity of the light outputbut not the colour temperature, which remainsconstant throughout the dimming process and thisis perfectly sufficient for many applications. Butnow, with DimTone, the colour temperature is alsoreduced as the lamp is dimmed. This creates awarm, intimate lighting effect at lower intensities,identical to the ‘sunset’ effect of a dimmedhalogen or incandescent lamp. This means thathoteliers, bar and restaurant owners can now takeadvantage of energy-efficient LED lighting and stillcreate a natural, cosy ambience when the light isdimmed.

Ideal for hotels, bars and restaurants

Market research has shown DimTone to be a highly appreciated breakthrough in LED lighting. It is seen as a ‘musthave’ option for facilitymanagers who want tocreate a warm, invitingatmosphere in bars,restaurants, lobbies,conference rooms andleisure centres. It enables hospitalitymanagers to answer theurgent need to convertto energy-efficient lighting throughout their establishments, withoutthe loss of any visualcomfort or sense of well-being.

In conjunction with:

Introducing a new LED GU10 retrofitsolution with revolutionary warm dimming

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* Please refer to the site www.philips.com/OEMmasterledlamps or www.philips.com/masterledfor the latest information about dimming MASTER LED lamps

Normal Dimming GU10 Vs Dimtone Dimming GU10

Product description MASTER LEDspot MV 7-50W DimTone GU10 2700K 25D

Wattage 7W Lumen output 270lm

Comparable Halogen Wattage 50W Efficacy 40 lm/w

Socket GU10 Units per pack 6

Beam intensity 1100 cd Colour rendering index >80

Beam angle 25D Colour temperature 2700K

Lifetime 40.000 hrs EOC code 8718292 15507200

Dimmable Yes*

Additional lens to provide warmer colour -same GU10 long size and angle (25D)

Normal DimmingLamp

DimToneDimming Lamp

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We have got some seriously talented craftsmenand women in our manufacturing facility atNorthern Lights. In each edition of our newmagazine, we thought we would show off the widerange of skills and techniques we possess, offeringendless possibilities for creating innovative,bespoke light fittings. This time we are looking atour glass department and the specific technique offused glass.

Fused glass refers to pieces of glass that havebeen fired in a kiln at high temperatures. Theprocess involves cutting glass shapes, cleaning upand arranging them into a pattern which is thenfired in a kiln for approximately 12 hours. Severalfirings at various temperatures can add depth,shape and aesthetic features to glasswork,resulting in stunning effects when illuminated aspart of a light fitting.

The possibilities for creating effects with fusedglass are virtually endless. We have producedintricate shades and panels for clients using theircolour scheme, swatch, or texture for inspiration.Our kiln capacity is approximately. 1M x 2M,allowing large glass panels to be produced.

We can produce virtually any shape you like(within reason!), and we can even ‘slump’ theglass afterwards to form a shape by laying theglass over a metal forming tool and firing at alower temperature. We currently use a type ofglass called ‘System 96’ (www.system96.com). As you will see the range of colours, textures andpatterns is extensive which gives the client greatflexibility in their choice of design.

with fused glass manufacturing techniques…

Hot Off The Kiln

Our kiln area

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Jamie Rayner, our Glass Workshop Manager, hasbeen working at Northern Lights since it wasestablished 24 years ago. Highly skilled indecorative glass techniques, the experience ofour craftsmen in the glass department is secondto none, meaning we meet customers’ needsevery time. We are extremely proud of our UKmanufacturing capabilities at Northern Lights,especially the practical skills of our team; this isthe foundation on which we base our service.

We have recently been manufacturing lightfittings for our new catalogue and have produceda standard light stem with virtually limitless glassoptions. We can offer fused, reeded and etchedglass with a colour matching service in any shape– just send us a picture or a basic sketch and wewill endeavour to meet your requirements.

If you would like to find out more about ourcapabilities and how we transform designers’visions into reality, just call and speak to ourtechnical team. Alternatively visit the technicalpages on our soon to be launched revampedwebsite www.northern-lights.co.uk.

China

In 2003 Northern Lights realised that Europeanmarkets were becoming cost prohibitive whencompared with certain products being importedfrom China. This and the disappearance of almostall UK based suppliers of lighting glasswareprompted us to investigate the possibility ofdirectly sourcing these products from the Chinesemarket.

Enlisting the services of a UK based agent, ourManaging Director and Buyer embarked on anumber of trips to trade shows and factories inHong Kong and mainland China. This helped toestablish trade links with a Chinese agent andfactories selected by us that were able to meet notonly the price points and capacity that we needed,but also the quality that we insisted upon.

Initially, our focus was on setting up a Chinesebased office with our agent and this was achievedin 2003. It is based in Huizhou City, Guangdong.Once in place, we concentrated our efforts on

relevant, essential products. These includedlighting glassware and simple low voltage andmains voltage downlights. This also enabled us tocreate links with a freight company here in the UK.Being new to imports choosing the right freightpartner was essential. Today, we are still using thesame freight forwarder, maintaining a competitiveedge and some of the quickest possible sea freightshipping times available.

Another aspect to successfully dealing withChinese companies is maintaining control of a USDollar account or forward currency contracts. Thisallows us to buy currency forward and takeadvantage of better exchange rates. During ourtime dealing with China we have seen the USDollar drop from over 2.00USD/1.00GBP to today’srate of around 1.55USD/1.00GBP – a drop of over20%. This of course affects the cost of all theproducts we import. Add to this the steep increasein raw material prices and operating costs frommost factories and you can see what a tough job it

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Northern Lights has been there longer than you might think!

has been maintaining our competitive edge, evenwith Chinese products!

As Northern Lights continues to expand the rangeof products we import from our Chinese factories,our in-house designers have become increasinglyinvolved with product development. The majorityof products are designed here in Chesterfield, inline with our customers’ and market requirements.However, in terms of product selection, themajority of items produced by our Chinesepartners are high volume, straightforward designsthat benefit from the ‘mass production’ methodsemployed by their factories. Almost all small runsand specially commissioned items are stillproduced at our Chesterfield factory.

Once our designers have completed their work,comprehensive technical drawing packages aresent to the factories for prototyping. Uponapproval by our Chinese office, samples arecouriered to Chesterfield for testing and final

approval by our quality and design team. Onlythen are the factories in China given the ‘greenlight’ to begin full production.

After eight years, Northern Lights has selectedseveral partners in China who produce a very widerange of quality lighting products. These includeblown/pressed lighting glassware, crystalcomponents and complete fittings, LED strips,modules and components as well as acomprehensive range of complete fittings for alllighting markets.

Our Managing Director, Buyer and members of thedesign team regularly visit the Chinese factories toensure a consistent level of quality is achieved.We continue to build the relationships we havewith our Chinese partners which enable us toremain at the forefront of quality, design, supplyand cost - something our clients value greatly.

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Our Managing Director, Head of Buying and our Far East Team

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Northern Lights Bespoke Hotel Catalogue 2012

Launching inthe New Year

Here at Northern Lights, our design team havebeen busy throughout the year creating productsfor our new catalogue, to be launched in early2012. All products are hand-made andphotographed at our in-house manufacturingfacility in Chesterfield. We have tried to create aclean and simple aesthetic, letting the materialsand quality of the production speak for themselves.Remember, we can make virtually anything youcan dream up; our light fittings and projects justserve as inspiration to feed your creativity. Wehave decided to feature three new products in thisissue to give you a 'sneak-peek' of what you canexpect......

A stunning addition to a boutique hotel lobby, theNorthern Lights ‘Thistle’ inspired lamps utilise thespeed and versatility of the laser cutting process tocreate a striking feature. With the arms supportingthe shade (available in any colour), this eliminatesthe need for any shade structure which can oftenspoil the lamp aesthetics by creating shadows.

The ‘Thistle’ shape is just one of many profiles thatcan be achieved with laser cutting. If you can dreamup a shape, our designers can draw it! We can lasercut mild and stainless steel, brass, copper andaluminium from sheet to any shape.

Thistle Standard and Table Lamp:

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our latest products...Available Now

This elegant stacked glass tablelamp could be used as a budgetfriendly but adaptable fitting for ahotel suite. Along with most of ourproducts, the stem can be tailoredto suit your every requirement.This lamp is available in virtuallyany combination of coloured glassor metal finish.

Stacked Glass Table Lamp:

Always pushing the boundaries with research and development, we haveconcentrated on streamlining production techniques this year to try andoffer more to our customers in terms of capacity and budget. We haverecently been looking at new ways of constructing shades which canreduce the weight and labour cost of the fitting. This tapered offsetdoughnut pendant is constructed entirely from a plastic fabrication,removing the need for traditional metalwork. This allows us to provide aquality fitting which is lighter and more easily installed.

Pendant:

The Sleep Event Europe:fuses inspiration, innovation and

opportunities for the design, development and architecture of

hotels across the globe

See Us At:

Stand M16

Northern Lights will once again be exhibiting at The Sleep Event at the Business Design Centre, Londonon 23-24th November. Visit our stand for an exclusive look at some of our new products. We will befeaturing some of the most challenging projects we have completed this year and showing off the

capabilities of our UK based manufacturing facility in Chesterfield. Most importantly you will be able tosee the varied range of materials and processes we offer to bring your ideas to life.

Northern Lights (Chesterfield) Ltd

Hardwick View Road, Holmewood Industrial Estate,

Holmewood, Chesterfield, S42 5SA

T: 01246 858750 F: 01246 858751

W: www.northern-lights.co.uk E: sales@northern-lights.co.uk

If you do not wish to receive further issues of this magazine please email: editor@northern-lights.co.uk