SHORTCUT

Client

Royal London Asset Management

Location

Dover Yard, London

Year

2010

Shortcut is a responsive lighting installation for the Dover Yard in London; a well-used pedestrian route linking Berkeley Street and Dover Street near to Piccadilly and Green Park Tube Station . The artwork responds to the different speeds, rhythms and concentration of people in the alley, and a flowing pattern of light is built up in the passageway which reflects the recent movement.

White LED uplights, recessed into the paving, increase in intensity as people pass by causing a rippling wave of light to move through the passageway tracing their movement. When there are no pedestrians the lights dim to a low brightness to save energy while also providing a safe level of illumination.

Shortcut was commissioned by Royal London Asset Management and the architects for the project were Squire and Partners.