VIP Bar Bubbles, The O2 Dublin

Architen Lighting have once again joined forces with Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture (JPDA); a New York based architecture firm; to produce a stunning V.I.P lounge at the new O2 Dublin arena.

Sponsored by the telecommunications company O2, the new arena is the largest indoor venue in the country. Since 1988 the old shipping depot has been the site of the Pont Theatre; a small music venue. Following its closure in 2007, the site underwent an €80 million redevelopment into a stunning new indoor arena with a capacity of over 14,500.

O2’s exclusive Indigo Lounge is conceived as a relaxing, pampering, minimalist garden, elevated high above the city. A dedicated lift brings select invite-only guests to the top floor to enjoy a drink and a panoramic view over the city. Live plants and a lush wall mural set an ambrosial tone. Colour-changing bubbles manufactured by Architen Lighting appear to float into the wooden ceiling in theme with the serene atmosphere.

Creative Director at JPDA, Darrick Borowski, explains his thoughts behind the bubbles.

‘O2’s brand is all about lightness, effervescence and bubbles. We wanted to create the effect of bubbles rising throughout the building and laying to rest on the top floor in the Indigo lounge. Having successfully worked with Architen Landrell at London’s O2 arena we know they are always capable of producing our vision.’

Architen Lighting have already impressed in the entertainment industry, winning awards for the work they did at the O2 Arena in London. One of the award winning projects, commissioned by JPDA in the brand’s concept store, entailled Architen Lighting producing a wall full of inflatable, colour changing pillows for the New York architects.

Project manager for both London and Dublin was Christopher Rowell. “A lot of work and time was invested in finding a manufacturing process for producing the spheres without any visible seams and up to 1m in diameter. This was critical as the illumination had to be even over the whole surface.”

Overall, 24 bubbles are installed in the roof of the Indigo lounge, varying in size from 400mm to 1m in diameter. They all have internal LEDs which are capable of producing an infinite number of colours and effects. A Pharos LPC DMX is installed to control the system. Each bubble is suspended on a single 3mm cable from the wooden roof, giving the desired effect of the bubbles simply floating into the ceiling.