Kings Square, Gloucester, UK

Michael Grubb Studio provided a Lighting Strategy for Gloucester City Council’s new Kings Square development located in the centre of the City.

The commission was organised by the Kings Quarter Art Commissioning panel, which consists of councillors, officers and key figures from local cultural and community organisations.

Michael Grubb Studio worked in parallel with both the client and design teams to understand the cultural significance of the site.  It will become a major events space for the city for years to come. The Lighting Strategy looks to create a unique sense of place which can hold large scale events, whilst being an attraction in its’ own right. The Strategy embraces and connects the Public Realm with the surrounding architecture, delivering a combined approach that can be operated and managed by all of the local stakeholders.

The use of colour was identified as major element and ambition of the scheme. The intention being to brand and celebrate key dates in the international and local calendar, with emphasis placed on natural phenomenons, such as sunsets and the full moon cycle. All features from building facades, hard landscape and water features will sequence collectively to create an immersive lit experience.

Leader of Gloucester City Council, Councillor Paul James, said: “Michael Grubb Studio are dynamic and exciting, with a brilliant portfolio and a great understanding of exactly the sort of concept we are looking for. We know it will capture the imagination of the local community, enhance the new public realm and create a positive identity for Kings Square.”

Following the delivery of the Lighting Strategy, funding for the transformation of the Square has recently been approved by Gloucester City Council and is part of the overall Kings Quarter redevelopment project, which is currently on site and due for completion in 2021.