A re-development in an historic area of Bristol is the latest UK site to feature ACO’s Eyeleds – a combined surface water management and lighting system.
Located in the popular Harbourside area of Bristol, just a few doors away from the city’s famed Bristol Hippodrome theatre, the Augustine's Courtyard development is home to 31,000sqft of prime commercial office space.
However, as part of a general development of the site in 2017, a series of remedial works were instigated by CBRE to provide a more aesthetic feel to key access points, in keeping with the historic setting.
Entry to the development is gained through a passageway which forms part of the 19th century Grade II-listed Dominions House, built in the classic Edwardian baroque style that is so prevalent throughout the city. To remain in keeping with the surroundings, the project’s architects The Bush Consultancy identified the need for a solution which would provide adequate lighting in a subtle yet atmospheric way.
To meet this requirement for a lighting solution, and minimise the need for any further street furniture, the Architects specified ACO Water Management’s Eyeleds system.
The Eyeleds water management system comprises of a 1m drainage channel fitted with two 500mm gratings, each embedded with a high-performance LED. Available in blue or white, the LEDs are sealed against water ingress, and have a working life of 100,000 hours. Up to 40 ACO Eyeled lights can be connected together and powered by a single 12V transformer.
Due to the site’s proximity to Bristol’s Harbourside complex, Augustine's Courtyard is often used by the public as a shortcut to access the number of bars and restaurants located in the vicinity. Given the high evening footfall, the extra lighting provided by the Eyeleds channels ensures that the public can feel safe when walking through the area at night.
Sam Hawkins, Regional Sales Manager for ACO Water Management, commented: “Given the location of the Augustine's Courtyard development, the Architects were keen to ensure that any remedial work to the area did not detract from the location’s aesthetics. With a view to creating an atmospheric – yet safe – environment within the courtyard, especially of an evening, they chose to specify the ACO Eyeleds system. This provided the dual function of delivering discreet yet modern floor lighting, while still providing an effective surface water management system for times of heavy rainfall.
“We couldn’t think of a finer location to showcase the aesthetic benefits the system can bring to a project. In many instances, drainage channels are often pigeon-holed as a necessary element of a building’s supporting infrastructure, without much consideration given to how they can positively impact both the design and feel of a finished landscaped area. However, the installation at Augustine's Courtyard is evidence of how just a small addition can transform a functional product into an aesthetic feature in its own right.”
ACO’s Eyeleds water management system is easy to install, and is available with Heelguard gratings to reduce the risks of shoes getting caught or damaged. As such, it is suitable for use in pedestrian and light vehicle applications. The product is also available for use on domestic sites, to add an extra aesthetic edge to driveway and patio projects.
The channel is manufactured from high-strength black polypropylene, meaning it is robust yet lightweight material. A range of cable splitters, extension cables and drainage accessories is also available.
