Christmas at Hackett - Enhancing Hackett London’s Retail Presence through Lighting

Project Type: Retail Architectural and Window Display Lighting

Location: Hackett London Retail Store

Size: Medium

Date: 2017

Design Goals:

• Create an impactful nighttime visual appeal: The façade lighting needed to complement the elegance and sophistication of Hackett London’s brand while enhancing the architectural features of the store.
• Highlight the festive window displays: The lighting design aimed to create impactful visuals, recreating the motion and colours of the Aurora Borealis, drawing attention to the storefront.

Design Strategy:

• Site Assessment: A comprehensive survey of the Hackett London façade was conducted to assess existing lighting conditions, architectural structure, and power supply accessibility. The focus was on identifying areas where lighting could enhance architectural depth and visual storytelling.
• Balancing drama with subtlety: Given Hackett’s refined aesthetic, we designed a lighting scheme that provided striking yet understated illumination. The goal was to highlight the building while
• Dynamic window illumination: To draw attention to Hackett’s festive displays, a combination of ambient lighting and focused fixtures was employed, ensuring the windows became central points of interest.
• Façade Lighting: The store’s classical façade featured prominent columns and architectural symmetry, which were highlighted through upward lighting techniques. Linear LED fittings were installed at the base of the columns to emphasize their verticality and create a sense of grandeur.
• Window Display Focus: Small yet powerful accent lights were discreetly installed around the window frames. These fixtures provided precise illumination, enhancing the intricate details of the festive displays without creating glare or disrupting the view into the store.
• Fixture Selection: We opted for LED fixtures with a warm colour temperature to complement Hackett’s elegant aesthetic. The fixtures offered a high colour rendering index (CRI), ensuring the true colours of the displays were accurately represented.
• Testing and Adjustments: Night testing allowed us to fine-tune fixture angles, lumen outputs, and dimming levels to achieve the desired balance of visibility, depth, and atmosphere.
• Strategic Placement: Light fixtures were installed at ground level and integrated into discreet recesses of the façade to maintain the architectural integrity. For window displays, fixtures were mounted around the perimeter to cast even illumination without harsh reflections.
• Durability and Safety: Fixtures were IP-rated for outdoor use, ensuring protection from weather exposure. All drivers and controls were securely installed behind accessible panels for future maintenance.

Results:

• Striking Visual Impact: The façade lighting created a sophisticated and inviting presence for Hackett London at night, emphasising the symmetry of the building and enhancing its architectural grandeur.
• Enhanced Window Displays: The dynamic lighting design drew focus to the festive visuals, captivating pedestrians and highlighting Hackett’s seasonal offerings.
• Brand Consistency: The lighting design aligned with Hackett London’s identity, combining refinement and functionality to showcase the store as a premium retail destination.
• Client Satisfaction: The client praised the project’s ability to enhance both the façade and window displays, creating an unforgettable visual experience for shoppers and passersby.