Discover the Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral, a hidden gem as CBG Light Perceptions designs a new lighting scheme to enhance visitor experience and preserve the cathedral's historic charm.

Climb 257 steps into the grand dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and you'll find one of London’s most fascinating hidden gems: the Whispering Gallery. Located 30 metres above the nave's crossing, this circular walkway hugs the dome's base and offers a thrilling view of the cathedral floor below. Here, stunning architecture meets incredible acoustics, allowing whispers to carry throughout the expansive dome. Now, as part of a critical safety upgrade, CBG Light Perceptions has been tasked with creating a lighting scheme that enhances the visitor experience while complementing the cathedral's historic beauty and the newly installed safety railings.

St Paul’s Cathedral is renowned worldwide as an Anglican cathedral, serving as the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London. Situated on Ludgate Hill — the highest point in the City of London—the cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, is a stunning example of English Baroque architecture.

Perched 30 metres above the nave's crossing, the Whispering Gallery features a circular walkway encircling the base of the dome, offering breathtaking views of the cathedral's interior and the floor below. The original lighting design, crafted by Speirs Major Light Architecture, dates back 25 years and combined cold cathode tubes, dimmed halogen lighting, and metal halide fixtures—technologies that were prevalent at the time. The recent redesign by CBG is part of a comprehensive initiative to enhance St. Paul's interior lighting with more energy-efficient solutions.

With a strong focus on sustainability, building physics, refurbishment, and asset management, the CBG team has positioned itself as the perfect partner for this prestigious project. In 2023, they expanded their offerings by establishing a new lighting consultancy division through the acquisition of Light Perceptions Ltd., enabling them to provide clients with a more comprehensive service.

To meet the project's requirements and modernise the gallery's outdated lighting, CBG chose iGuzzini’s Linealuce linear fixtures. This contemporary, high-performance miniaturised luminaire has replaced 64 meters of cold cathode fittings, effectively illuminating the beautifully gilded heritage Tijou railings. A warm white colour temperature has been selected to enhance the overall ambiance.

To enhance the illumination of the Thornhill frescoes that grace the dome above the gallery, CBG Light Perceptions selected iGuzzini Palco luminaires featuring a range of meticulously chosen optics. These fixtures are organised into distinct zones to accentuate the key elements of the artwork, replacing the outdated metal halide and halogen spotlights.

An enhanced safety feature introduced in the gallery includes a series of discreet miniature emergency lights. These lights offer low-level illumination for the gallery floor and effectively highlight exit doors in case of an emergency.

The newly installed lighting elegantly illuminates the rich history of the Whispering Gallery, where contemporary innovation harmoniously intertwines with the cathedral's timeless allure. The lighting fixtures accentuate the gallery’s stunning architectural details while fostering a warm ambiance, making each whispered conversation among guests feel uniquely cherished.

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