Relighting Norwich Cathedral’s Interior

“The bespoke candle detail, which has a ‘flame’ on top and a reading light on the bottom, is beautiful.” —Juror Raymond Barberousse, Studio PGRB

For England’s 900-year-old Norwich Cathedral, renowned for its architecture and as a place of worship, Speirs + Major created a new interior lighting system that supports the liturgy, provides flexibility for cultural activities and tourism, and reduces the structure’s energy load.

The cathedral comprises six chapels, two ancillary rooms, and a historic library. Its spiritual aspects formed the foundation of the design approach. A flexible background level of light facilitates everyday activities while highlighting key liturgical elements and objects of religious and cultural significance. At each entrance and elevation change, managed light levels ensure access and improved safety for people of all abilities. Another light layer showcases the infrastructure required for concerts and community events. A final layer of light accentuates the soaring architectural volumes. Soft uplighting highlights the sculptural ceilings and important features, such as the ornate carved bosses at the intersections of the ribs.

James Newton
The bespoke candlelike luminaires are designed to improve conditions for reading music while creating a soft sparkle reminiscent of a flame.

The project was executed in phases, allowing the Cathedral to remain operational at all times. To minimize impact to the historic building, Speirs + Major designed a series of multipurpose details, honed through testing and mock-ups. A modular track system concealed within the fluted profile of the columns allows light to be located and directed with minimal physical connections to the stonework. For the Quire, a bespoke stall-mounted luminaire, a modern interpretation of a candle, improves conditions for reading music while creating a soft sparkle reminiscent of a flame.

Each lighting effect is individually controlled and dimmable from 0% to 100%. Replacing the former tungsten-halogen scheme with the all-LED design has generated significant savings in energy and maintenance and reduced UV emissions, helping to preserve the sensitive painted medieval artworks and artifacts. In replacing the electrical infrastructure, the team also hand-painted the new cabling to blend into the building fabric.

James Newton
In the Presbytery, light expresses the soaring volumes in a sensitive manner.

James Newton
The view to the West End; the triple-height vaulting is softly highlighted.

James Newton
In the North Transept, gentle uplighting reveals the sculptural fan vaulting and historic features, such as the ornate carved bosses at the rib intersections.

James Newton
The lighting scene enhances the liturgical and spiritual aspects in the nave.

James Newton

A bespoke modular track system, tucked within the columns' fluted profile, provides the flexibility to locate and direct light where needed.

James Newton
For the Quire, Speirs + Major created a bespoke stall-mounted luminaire—a modern interpretation of a candle.

James Newton
Speirs + Major successfully petitioned to have the previously installed guarding at the Triforium level removed, allowing the architecture to be re-envisaged.

James Newton
Light sources were concealed and located to minimize damage to the stonework.

James Newton
The side aisles feature painted medieval artworks, revealed by fixtures located on column capitals.

Details
Project Name: Relighting Norwich Cathedral’s Interior
Location: Norwich, U.K.
Client/Owner: Dean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral
Lighting Designer: Speirs + Major, London • Mark Major, Philip Rose, Martin Firera Alessandri, Alex Cotterell
Electrical Engineer: EngDesign
General Contractor: EV Bullen
Surveyor: Freeland Rees Roberts Architects
Systems Integrator/Project Manager: Light Perceptions
Photographer: James Newton

Project Size: 3,450 square meters (approximately 37,100 square feet)
Lighting Cost: Approximately £1,000,000 ($1,300,000)
Watts per Square Meter: 5.29 (0.49 watts per square foot) when the system is at 100%
Lighting Product Manufacturers: Viabizzuno, Stoane Lighting, Lutron