“In the Footsteps of Giants” More Than Just a Tall Tale

“In the Footsteps of Giants” More Than Just a Tall Tale

May 24, 2012

Martin image projectors bring legend to life at Skistar’s Åre Ski Area

Martin Professional Exterior 400 Image Projectors™ and Exterior 1200 Image Projectors™ are helping bring a legendary Swedish epic tale to life on the slopes of Åre Ski Area in central Sweden. Beginning with last year’s 2011/2012 ski season, skiers at Åre can experience "In the Footsteps of Giants," a night-time guided ski tour for children - or kids of all ages - that retells the local legend of the Giants, the legendary creators of the Norse gods.

“In the Footsteps of Giants” was conceptualized by Kai Piippo and his team at Ljusarkitektur of Stockholm who have integrated dynamic lighting on a family slope as an integral part of the story telling. Besides creating an after-dark activity for children when entertainment possibilities are limited, the tour continues a tradition of centuries of storytelling, spoken-word folklore that combines with the surrounding landscape - including lighting - to create a memorable experience.

The “In the Footsteps of Giants” slope is illuminated in blue light with dynamic projection from LED Exterior 400 Image Projectors, and an Exterior 1200 Image Projector, used to visually support the story at certain points.

An important part of the tale for example reminiscences of a burning valley and fire beneath the surface of the mountain, an effect which Ljusarkitektur illustrates using pattern projection from an Exterior 400 Image Projector, supplied for this project with a custom animation wheel.

Mounted on a pole atop a rise, the Exterior casts a 7 m wide glowing fire effect down onto the slope. Fully-weatherproofed, the LED image projector casts over 7000 lumens of power and houses up to six replaceable designs and up to eight interchangeable colors. Another use of the image projectors involves a moving image projected onto snow in the forest that hints at something magical, a secret spot where the Giants have hidden a treasure.

The "In the Footsteps of Giants" trail, which can be enjoyed during standard night skiing or as part of the guided tour, proved quite popular in its first season. The project continues into the 2012/2013 ski season with a new design that will have additional effects from more Exterior 400 Image Projectors.

Credits:

Client: Skistar, Åre
Resort Manager: Niclas Sjögren Berg
Technical Project Manager: Carl-Johan Eckblom

Lighting Design: Ljusarkitektur, Stockholm
Responsible Lighting Designer: Kai Piippo
Project Managing Designer: Paul Ehlert
Lighting Designer: Joonas Saaranen
Lighting Designer: Lina Färje
Lighting Designer: Janica Wiklander

Control System / Support: Stockholm Lighting Company AB, Ian Fanning, Rikard Åhlstrand

Electrical Planning: Johnson´s El, Åre
Project Planner: Martin Lyren

Text/Story concept: Mathias Knave

Photos: Mikael Silkeberg

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