The Lock, Stock & Barrel in Dubai was inspired by the trend of casual, industrial and
live music venues all over the world. Spread over two floors and with more than
800 square metres, it focuses on live music events and sports with two bars, a live
music stage and eleven screens.
Lighting designer Ben M Rogers of ArchiLX worked alongside the interiors team from
mid-2015 to be ready for opening in the first half of 2016. For lighting control he
specified an MA Lighting dot2 XL-B console running an Art-Net based network
driving all the show and architectural lighting in the venue.
Rogers explained his reason to vote for the dot2: “I have been programming MA
consoles for the last nine years. The new software platform and industrial build of
the dot2 provided a perfect product for these installations – combining the power
and flexibility of the grandMA2 series in an intuitive, accessible and compact form.’
“We needed a robust control solution to handle a wide variety of fixture types –
including the architectural light sources – as well as to deal with the venue’s weekly
schedule, which transitions between an after work hang-out to live music venue, a
kicking club vibe or a first class sports bar’, said Rogers. “I wanted an adaptable
network based solution with easy programming and expandable control. Although
we have over 80 automated fixtures and 800 plus LED pixels there is still space on
the console for future expansion.’
Asked about his design ideas Rogers explained: “The venue’s design is very
theatrical with lots of industrial textures, real brick and reclaimed timber elements
with an analogue feel, so the lighting design needed to enhance and reflect that.
The fixture choices are primarily LED based but the intuitive control from the dot2
allows us to perfect the colour mixes and establish a warm inviting atmosphere that
works with the natural tones of the construction materials and finishes.’
“Fixture choices included LED filament replacement lamps through to platinum
series moving heads, all of which the dot2 handles with ease. We use moving head
LED beam units as table lighting within the architectural package so lighting control
across the whole system had to be dynamic and flexible. There are lights in every
cove, corner and all across the 10m high ceiling which includes a feature wall made
of 600 individually illuminated beer bottles’.
“The venue is a unique design conceived by the team at Solutions Leisure and
designed and built by Broadway Interiors. There is nothing “average’ about this
venue – guests generally enter for the first time and their jaw drops! It’s audacious
and yet still unpretentious.’ Rogers concluded.
