Mallett Antiques, in common with their own distinguished vintage, selected a property with a notable history. Ely House, the new showroom, was originally built as the London palace for the seat of the Bishop of Ely in 1772, and the fantastic architecture has earned Grade I listing. Further prior occupants of the premises included the notable Abermale Club, who relocated there in the early 1900s to escape the notoriety forced upon them following the trial of Oscar Wilde.
Famed architect Robert Taylor designed the neo-classical styling of Ely House, and original features remain intact within the interiors. As such, the lighting scheme needed to by sympathetic to the architectural features, including open arches and breath-taking columns with defined mouldings. The minimalist appeal of the Evo family, proportioned to the golden ratio, ensured an effortless juxtaposition between the styling of the luminaire, and the vintage interiors.
Flexibility of Evo X family provides ideal solution for commercial gallery
Given Mallett’s role as a commercial dealer, with frequently changing inventory, the lighting solution also required flexibility. The Evo family uses a bearing aided rotation mechanism so that the luminaire head can be smoothly rotated for focusing on the works exhibited by the dealership.
The constant torque tilt mechanism also ensures correct aim; the mechanism has been crafted in a similar way to what would be expected from high-end laptop hinges, with no hint of slack. The smooth rotation through both the pan and tilt allows for precise focusing of the Evo X spotlights.
Architectural integration was not limited to the choice of the luminaire; while a track system was clearly required to follow the lines of the ceiling plane, Mallett required a discreet track system which could blend in with the interiors effortlessly. Precision’s Basis Track system, a low voltage system with clean minimal lines, was an obvious solution.
The discreet size of the system (the profile of Basis Track is a refined 17mm by 8mm), allowed the system to be hidden behind the moulding work that runs the length of the tiled corridor of Ely House. To ensure the system was as inconspicuous as possible, the track was finished in a bespoke white finish, complementing the similarly finished luminaires, and the interior decor.
Curved Basis Track facilitates architectural integration
The versatility of the Basis Track system was underlined by its stunning installation over the Grand Staircase that leads to the first floor of the dealership. The Abermale Club added the Grand Staircase to Ely House during their residence in the building in 1909, and the striking stairwell features large mullioned windows that offer gorgeous daylight to offer a balanced aesthetic.
Mallet uses the wide staircase landing to display freestanding works, including decorative ceramics, and the Basis Track descends over the staircase to provide the perfect mounting point for the Evo X luminaires. The system’s ability to be factory curved to a custom radius allowed the Basis Track to follow the internal curve of the stairwell wall; the result is that light source emanating from the spotlights are discreetly positioned away from the objects to be illuminated as well as avoiding glare for those ascending the stairs to the first floor of the gallery.
The layering of the ambient daylight allowed by the large windows, and the precise accent glows from the spotlights, aimed at emphasising the individual characteristic of each work, creates a wonderfully light aesthetic in the stairwell that draws interested collectors further up the Grand Staircase towards the landing, and encouraging them further into exploring the upper floor.
The design scheme for this Dover Street gallery also includes luminaires from Precision’s sister company, RCL. The illustrious front exhibiting room features RCL’s DR2 spotlight to offer a flexible lighting solution that allows the luminaires to be controlled in pan and tilt from ground level, via a handheld remote control.
Project: Mallet Antiques – Ely House – http://www.mallettantiques.com/en/our-heritage/ely-house
For marketing enquires, please contact: James Curtis – jrc@precisionlighting.co.uk
For sales enquires, please contact: Spence Baxter – sb@precisionlighting.co.uk