4 3
4 3
thepyra is a multipurpose
LED fitting for bollard il-
lumination.
bollard functions include
road traffic control, casual
path illumination, mooring
of ships and access condi-
tioning in general.
For these purposes it is
usualy necessary to place
a light source so that it can
be seen by vehicles drivers
and passers-by in general
without glaring them. It is
thus very convinient to use
a LED as light source as it is
very efficient at providing
the right illumination for this
purpose.
the default design of thep-
yra creates a textured ring
halo effect instead of the
traditional soft glow on the
ground. Also the refraction
of light in the diffuser re-
calls the image of a glow-
ing gem (similar to a light-
house).
© 2008, Mario R Siqueira & Brunel University
2
2 1
D
3
2
1 3
2
C
4
1
5
C
4
5
SEE DETAIL A
1
2 SEE DETAIL A
simulated photograph
3 5
B A
4
5 thepyra can be adapted
5 to different bollard solu-
B A
6
tions to provide. Using 2
1. adaptable cap a special reflector and
A
2. concave reflector (aluminium) correct customized cap
3. diffuser (pressed glass) a corporate logo can be
A
4. concentrator (aluminium) slightly illuminated with
5. high-powered LED (3V) part of the up-light. The
6. support+heatsink (aluminium) ring effect can also be
customized by tooling
A. grooves disperse heat different textures to the
A diffuser’s sides.
A DETAIL A simulated photograph
NAME
DETAIL A DESCRIPTION
AUTHOR
initialbrief
initial brief as provided by Remote Control Lighting

“Your project is to design an

architectural lighting fitting”
light&architecture
lighting is as a crucial aspect of architecture as structural integrity
of a site or the optimal usage of its space. light in architecture
have different functions and here are some examples

by Erin the Actor @ flickr.com/photos/theatrdiva/418462081/ by Joben @ flickr.com/photos/joben/136917989/

by wink @ flickr.com/photos/wink/288049750/ by IHP @ flickr.com/photos/ihp/117213552/

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

LEDlighting
Light Emitting Diode lighting (also called Solid State Lighting) halogen bulbs are incan- (compact) fluorescent
solutions have improved in recent years and are starting to re- descent bulbs filled with lamps (CFL) are gas-
place traditional halogen and fluorescent lighting. LED have a inert gas and a halogen discharge lamps that
much longer lifespan and are more efficient that traditional light gas. This halogen gas uses electricity to excite
sources. improves the lifespan of mercury vapor. These
these bulbs compared lamps convert electricity
to traditional incandes- to light more efficiently
cent bulbs and increases that incandescent bulbs
the efficacy by allow- but requires a ballast to
ing higher filament tem- regulate the electric cur-
peratures at equivalent rent, increasing its manu-
power. As it operates facturing complexity. CFL
at higher temperatures contains mercury - toxic.
it requires more safety
measures than other
by AntonGF @ flickr.com/photos/antonfomkin/3045744275/
bulbs. This technology
allows higher color tem-
incandescent bulb produces light letting flowing electric current
peratures.
heat a thin filament until it emits light. Despite being very
inexpensive to produce and easy to use this technology is very
inefficient, converting 90% of the energy into heat
instead of light.

LED has been used for several dec- very small, very long lifespan and technically easier to control its features
ades as visual indicators to electronic (ie. focus, wavelength, etc). Contrary to fluorescent lamps, LED does not
devices. In recent years we started contain mercury (toxic). The main current disadvantages include high cost
to witness the use of LED in lighting of production, temperature sensitivity (reduced lifespan at high tempera-
solution. LED can be produced in any tures) and requires complex electronic systems to regulate current.
colour avoiding the need for colour But most of these issues are currently being tackle by the industry as LEDs
filters. They are also: very efficient, starts to replace traditional light sources.

@ www.dansdata.com/

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

bollards|functions
lighting is as a crucial aspect of architecture as structural integrity
of a site or the optimal usage of its space. light in architecture
have different functions and here are some examples of bollards
(with or without light) in public and private spaces

by historyanorak @ flickr.com/photos/historyanorak/518433747/
by alisdair @ flickr.com/photos/alisdair/426699691/

by milouvision @ flickr.com/photos/milouvision/2890339579/
by yersinia @ flickr.com/photos/yersinia/1164365342/

by duncandragon @ flickr.com/photos/12295204@N06/2424887396/
by paco_calvino @ flickr.com/photos/paco_calvino/2316520857/

by milouvision @ flickr.com/photos/bambooly/1894747331/

by ltrebing @ http://flickr.com/photos/ltrebing/2761200384/
themarket
the bollard market includes those used in public places (roads,
streets, squares, ...)

Panorama, erco lighting

Skyguard, prisma lighting

Joker Line 4 prisma lighting
lightingeffects
some lighting effects in bollards

by zack_mensinger @ flickr.com/photos/zack_mensinger/370434719/

by erikamatthias @ flickr.com/photos/erikamatthias/2756334878/

@ flickr.com/photos/20965406@N00/255878698/

@ flickr.com/photos/8743524@N03/3108091984/
lightingeffects

by richard_winskill @ http://flickr.com/photos/richard_winskill/166872406/

by bitterjug @ flickr.com/photos/bitterjug/1255671383/

by igoryariv @ http://flickr.com/photos/igoryariv/2324376327/

by true-illusion @ flickr.com/photos/true-illusion/2438970348/ by ldj_design @ flickr.com/photos/ldj_design/

concept|theme
most bollards in the market provide a soft glowing halo on the
ground. some exceptional solutions produce a different effect. us-
ing the right combination of lens, reflectors and diffusers I intend
to produce a more define and clear effect on the ground around
the bollard.
Moreover, the fitting should be able to adapt to different design
of bollards and well as different clients.

cap

reflector unit

concentrator

“heatsink”
inspirational
words and images that left marks. a lighting bollard like a light-
house

by sergecampo @ flickr.com/photos/sergecampo/724576629/

lighthouse barrier
glass stop/halt
beams border
Pháros fence
beacon
verticality glow
fire diamond
flames

colossus of Rhodes
prometheus

by jason lloyd @ flickr.com/photos/jason_lloyd/2278590247/

“looks like a
crystal of light”

by visbeek @ flickr.com/photos/visbeek/2608933128/ by renet @ flickr.com/photos/renet/12135813/

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

haloeffects
different possibilities for the glowing halo of a bollard

soft circles

soft elipsis

defined ring

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

haloeffects
this effect would try to emulate a strong downwar spot-light,
away from the bollard itself. tests were made using a flat mir-
ror and a concave mirror. the distance between the LED and the
reflective surface turned out to be too great to make this design
practicle

concentrator

LED

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

experimentation

OFF ON with a acrylic frosted cup around the LED ON with a acrylic frosted cup around the LED and
flat mirror left on top

Bent mirror reflects a eliptic halo

ON with a acrylic frosted cup around the LED and ON with fixed focus camera lens shining at a con-
flat mirror on top ~10cm away from cup cave mirror notice the riple effect on the ground
experimentation

using the out-of-the-box lens and flat mirror reflector at ...same lens, concave reflector at ~5cm ...same lens, flat mirror AND concave mirror just
~5cm beneath it.

...same lens, curved mirror

 4 3 2 1

D 80 mm D
6 mm

20 mm

3
2 20 mm
4 mm
1

C C
4

SEE DETAIL A
60 mm

6 mm
5
B A
2

1. Diffuser/lens
A 2. reflector
3. cap
4. concentrator
5. support/heatsink

A NAME A
DETAIL A DESCRIPTION

AUTHOR DATE

4 3 2 1
material&swatches
thepyra would be manufactured using pressed glass for the dif-
fuser and aluminium. the convex dome-shape concentrator and the
concave reflector would be made of reflective aluminium.

“Reflective aluminum or “lighting sheet” has a mir-

ror like surface and is made from high purity alumi-
num with specific photometric qualities to control
light.”
- anomet.com

the diffuser pressed glass can be

textured so that the halo diffused
by it can get different textures.
material&swatches
for the proof-of-principle prototype the pressed glass raplace-
ment is acrylic and the reflective aluminium replacement is pol-
ished stainless steel
proofconceptprototype

convex dome “punched out”

of a stainless steel sheet. In-
ner surface has been exten-
sively polished to acchive the
pre-made domeh
highest reflection possible
proofconceptprototype

LED circuitry is protected

inside the chocbox(TM). Yel-
low foam support simulates a
bollar diameter although the
fitting distance from the base
can be changed according to
bollard design variations
finalexperiments
incontext
the texture on the rings could be changed by tooling the diffuser’s
sides

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

incontext
modifications on the diffuser can allow minimal uplight to illumi-
nate corporate logos or public instructions

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

appendix
sketches and visual brainstorming

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

appendix
sketches and visual brainstorming

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

appendix
sketches and visual brainstorming

images not referenced are in public domain or originals

appendix
sketches and visual brainstorming

images not referenced are in public domain or originals