Yesterday, the British Airways London Eye became a rainbow of revolving colours when it was lit for the Christmas season. Park Avenue, British Airways' brand communication and events agency, was commissioned to design and realise the project, which began over nine months ago and has involved detailed discussion with British Airways, the British Airways London Eye safety and structural consultants and David Marks, the architect. The Park Avenue team, led by creative director Simon Tapping, producer Ajay Parekh, and lighting designer Paul Cook worked with Keith Duncan and the team at Vari-Lite to achieve the effects they needed. As a result 32 Vari*Lites are attached to the pods and take their colour and design from the sky, rather than more traditional or commercial Christmas designs. Special brackets have been designed to attach the Vari*Lites to the structure and ‘anti-freeze' cues have been built into the programme so that the lights will be in constant motion, even when unlit, to ensure that they don’t freeze in one position in sub-zero weather. The whole sequence, which was pre-programmed in WYSIWYG, is controlled by a Wholehog desk, which has been mounted on the Eye itself. A microwave link across the river has been set up so live adjustments can be made from the prime viewing position on the North bank.
