Speirs and Major Associates
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture and design Lighting design Brand and communications |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh and London, UK |
| Key people | Jonathan Speirs, Mark Major, Keith Bradshaw |
| Employees | 30 |
| Website | www.samassociates.com |
Speirs and Major Associates is a UK lighting design practice founded by Jonathan Speirs and Mark Major in 1992. The practice is particularly noted for its illumination of prominent buildings, including Barajas International Airport[1][2], 30 St Mary Axe (‘The Gherkin’), the Millennium Dome and the interior of St. Pauls Cathedral[3]. The firm has also developed lighting master plans for several British cities, including Cambridge, Coventry, Durham[4], Newcastle, and King’s Cross Central, London.
The practice's after-dark designs have been credited with helping to raise awareness of the lighting design profession in the UK[5]. Today it employs approximately 30 people drawn from disciplines including architecture, art, lighting, interior, graphic and theatrical design. Its offices are based in London and Edinburgh, UK.
Contents |
[edit] Lighting architects
Both founding members Jonathan Speirs and Mark Major trained and practiced as architects before focusing on lighting design. In interviews[5][6] they have argued that light should be embedded at the heart of the architectural design process rather than applied as a ‘cosmetic add-on’[5]. This integral approach to light[7] has led them to adopt the term ‘lighting architect’ to describe their role as ‘building with light as opposed to bricks and mortar’[5].
[edit] Notable projects
- Infinity Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees, UK (2009)
- Armani Fifth Avenue, New York, USA (2009)
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2008)
- Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing, PRC (2008) [8]
- The restoration of the Royal Festival Hall, London (2007)
- Armani/Ginza flagship store, Tokyo, Japan (2007) [9]
- BBC Scotland exterior lighting, Glasgow, UK (2007)
- Durham Lighting Strategy, Durham, UK (2007) [4][10]
- Terminal 4, Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain (2006) [2]
- The interior of St Paul’s Cathedral, London (2006) [3]
- The Sackler Crossing, Kew Gardens, London (2006) [11]
- 30 St Mary Axe, (The Gherkin), London (2004)
- The Copenhagen Opera House, Copenhagen, Denmark (2004)
- World Squares for All (Trafalgar Square) London (2003)
- Gateshead Millennium Bridge, UK (2002)
- Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham, UK (2001) [12]
- The Millennium Dome, Greenwich, London (2000)
- Burj Al Arab Hotel exterior, Dubai, UAE (1999)
RIBA Stirling Prize collaborations
Speirs and Major Associates have designed lighting for a number of buildings that have either won or been nominated for the RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture.
Stirling Prize winners:
- Maggie's Centre London (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners) in 2009
- Terminal 4, Barajas Airport, Madrid (Richard Rogers Partnership) in 2006
- 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), London (Foster and Partners) in 2004
- The Gateshead Millennium Bridge (Wilkinson Eyre) in 2002
- The Magna Centre, Rotherham (Wilkinson Eyre) in 2001
Stirling Prize shortlisted projects:
- 5, Aldermanbury Square, London (Eric Parry Architects) in 2009
- The Royal Festival Hall Restoration (Allies and Morrison) in 2008
- The Dresden Main Station Redevelopment (Foster and Partners) in 2007
- The Phoenix Initiative, Coventry (MJP Architects) in 2004
- The Dance Base, Grassmarket, Edinburgh (Malcolm Fraser Architects) in 2002
[edit] Recent awards
- IALD Radiance Award 2010
- PLD Recognition Award for Best New Project 2009
- IALD Radiance Award 2009
- IALD Radiance Award 2008
- Light and Architecture Award 2008
- FX Design Award for Best Lighting 2008
- IESNA Award of Merit 2007
- IESNA Award of Distinction 2007
- Lighting Designer of the Year (UK) 2007
- FX Design Award for Best Lighting 2007
- FX Design Award for Best Lighting 2005
- IALD Award of Excellence 2005
- Lighting Designer of the Decade, Light Magazine (UK) 2005
[edit] Bibliography
In 2006 Jonathan Speirs and Mark Major authored the book Made of Light: The Art of Light and Architecture, a series of visual essays on lighting design[13]. The book is co-authored by Anthony Tischhauser and published by Swiss architectural publisher Birkhäuser.[14]
- Jonathan Speirs, Anthony Tischhauser, Mark Major (2006). Made of Light: The Art of Light and Architecture. Birkhäuser. ISBN 978-3764368609.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Richard Rogers Partnership. "Terminal 4 Barajas Airport Madrid", Richard Rogers Partnership, 2007
- ^ a b Slessor, Catherine."Spanish Soft Machine", Architectural Review, July 2006
- ^ a b Kolb, Jaffer. "Divine Light", Architectural Lighting, November 2006
- ^ a b "Plan to illuminate historic city", BBC News, August 2007
- ^ a b c d Kennett, Stephen. "Setting the world alight", Building Services Journal, January 2006
- ^ Mansfield, Susan. "That warm glow of success", The Scotsman, June 2002
- ^ Alexander, Kaye. "Seeing the light", The Architects Journal, September 2008
- ^ Basulto, David. "Beijing Airport / Foster + Partners", Arch Daily, May 2008
- ^ Donoff, Elizabeth. "New Giorgio Armani Flagship Store in Toyko's Ginza District", Architectural Lighting Magazine, April 2008
- ^ "News Article: Durham Light and Darkness strategy", One North East, August 2007
- ^ Sadighian, David. "Speirs and Major treads lightly at the Sackler Crossing", Architectural Record, November 2007
- ^ "The Magna Science Adventure Centre", Architectural Record
- ^ Addy, Ben. "A little light reading", Building Services Journal, March 2006
- ^ "Made of Light: The Art of Light and Architecture", Amazon.com
