London’s Geffrye Museum is housed in a series of Grade I-listed, 18th-century alms houses with a central pavilion, a chapel with a portico, built around a courtyard and period garden that faces into a main road.  Sutton Vane Associates lit the exterior, courtyard, grounds and monuments, highlighting the architecture and making the building easier to view from the street.

Rather than a conventional wall wash over the front of the building, narrow-beam uplighting has been used to emphasise its architectural rhythm and give it drama. The low wattage metal halide uplights are recessed into flowerbeds to hide the fittings.

Similar 35 Watt downlights that illuminate the pathways without glare, are hidden in the building’s ornate eves. Compact 20 Watt, wide metal halide floods light the herb garden. Recessed uplights illuminate trees and banners.
The inside of the central chapel clock tower is lit with a 20 Watt metal halide beam. Some existing fittings such as the lanterns over the gates were refurbished and fitted with energy saving compact fluorescent lamps.

To help keep the project’s cost down and reduce waste the original underground wiring system was retained but extended. Controls allow the facade and paths to be lit separately, for example when the museum is shut. An astronomical time clock is also used. The controls are programmed but can be adjusted by the client. Mains halogen floods can be activated instantly for security.