Waterford – Viking Heritage Installations (2019–2020)

Viking Heritage Installations

Waterford – Ireland | 2019–2020
Urban / Cultural Lighting
Role: Lighting Designer – Concept, Custom Design & Control Systems

Project Overview

Urban lighting project developed for the historic city center of Waterford, aimed at enhancing a series of Viking heritage sculptures and installations distributed throughout the public realm.

The intervention was conceived as a cultural and narrative lighting system, capable of strengthening the city’s historical identity while remaining flexible for public events and seasonal celebrations.

Concept

The core intention was storytelling through light.
Waterford’s Viking heritage is ancient, powerful, and deeply connected to myth, exploration and the unknown. The lighting design was meant to evoke this atmosphere — to create a subtle sense of tension, mystery and emotional depth rather than simple monument illumination.

Light and shadow were carefully orchestrated to amplify the sculptural forms and materials, allowing visitors to feel the history rather than simply observe it.

A key conceptual choice was the use of purple light, selected as a symbolic color representing magic, transformation and the connection between earth and sky — an abstract but meaningful reference to the Viking spiritual and cultural world.

Technical Strategy

  • RGBW projectors with full color control for narrative and event-based lighting scenarios
  • DMX control system, allowing the municipality to manage lighting scenes easily via PC or mobile interface
  • Custom-designed mounting solutions developed to integrate luminaires discreetly within the historic urban fabric
  • Precise aiming and beam control to preserve visual comfort and avoid light pollution within the historic center

Role & Responsibilities

  • Lighting concept development and narrative strategy
  • Identification of optimal lighting positions for each installation
  • Customization of mounting solutions in collaboration with manufacturers
  • Technical lighting design and fixture specification
  • On-site supervision, commissioning and DMX programming
  • Final testing and handover to the local authority

The project successfully combined cultural storytelling with technical flexibility, enabling Waterford to adapt its urban lighting to different events while maintaining a strong and coherent visual identity rooted in its history.