Close, But No Cigar

摘要

Ever since the demise of HiLight in the mid-'90s and Total Lighting's subsequent move to the NEC, London has long cried out for a high-class architectural lighting exhibition. Last February, the ambitious and much-publicised ARC05, organised by Mondiale, the publishers of Mondo Arc, arrived to fill the gap. Did it fulfil its own hype - and the expectations loaded onto it by specifiers? Well, not exactly, but it was a brave try nevertheless - and one that can only improve on its second showing in 2006. The quantity of exhibitors - over 60 - was certainly encouraging, and the number of specifiers coming through the door was impressive. The seminar programme too was comprehensive, well-attended and spot on target, with sessions on subjects such as Lighting Historic Buildings, Visual Ergonomics in the Office and Architectural Lighting Controls. However the number of significant, mainstream architectural lighting companies exhibiting - Sill, iGuzzini (who are based in the BDC in any case), Light Projects, Fagerhult and Louis Poulsen - was rather less than promising and could be counted on the digits of one hand. Far easier to name to the companies that hadn't made the trip.