The Winding Wheel

The wheel itself marks an important piece of the history of this area. Originally used in the Glasshoughton Pit, designers approached Architen Landrell to bring the wheel to life.

The client's original idea was to use floodlights, but Architen's concept was to introduce more dynamism and the suggestion of its historic movement. This has been simulated by the use of the latest lighting technology using in excess of 1000 individual colour changing LED’s. The structure is washed using four 150w Meyer Superlight Compact wide-beam fittings mounted on the perimeter tie backs. Positioned at the base of each mast are four narrow-beam 70w versions of the same Meyer fitting. Eight lengths of Color Kinetics iColor Flex each with 50 individually controlled RGB LEDs are located on the perimeter of the wheel. Lumos 3 RGB 1W Luxeon LED fittings from I-Vision have been used to project along the spokes and are mounted in the top of the masts. A 20m blue RopeLED by LEDtronics is positioned on the inside of the cable groove on the perimeter of the wheel. All the lighting control and programming is achieved with a Pharos LPC2 DMX controller, the first UK installation. The controller is linked to a GPRS modem so programme changes and modifications can be made from anywhere in the world. The lighting effect can also be changed by text messaging. The whole lighting installation elegantly marries old with new. The wheel is suspended from stainless steel cables and masts and symbolises both change and continuity.

''We are very pleased with it. Perhaps what's most important is that the community are pleased with it. We promised in 1995 when we started the regeneration project that we would build a memorial to the miners who died in the Glasshoughton pit. We wanted something iconic and that mixed modern and old. When we discovered what Architen could do where the lighting was concerned it made it much more exciting as a landmark'' Stuart McLoughlin, Managing Director, Waystone.