Ministry of Sound, Singapore

As arguably the most famous nightclub franchise in the world, Ministry of Sound (MoS) needs no introduction. MoS operations in the UK and overseas are meccas for clubbers. Its Singapore venue at the Clarke Quay waterfront is the franchise’s largest at 40,000 square feet, a megaclub that imports the crème de la crème of dance industry talent, and like other Ministry’s around the world, is packed with Martin gear.

Interior Designer Neil Morten (GMP Design International) called on Steve Rawlins to handle the intelligent lighting design, having successfully worked with him on MoS Bangkok. Overseeing all technical suppliers was Jesmend Tham with installation carried out by Lai Lee.

Branding
Outside, MAC 700 Profiles pan the MoS logo across the building, or corporate logos on sponsored nights. Lighting a large canopy that stretches from the parking garage to the main entrance are CX-10 Extreme color and effect lights that gently scroll gobos and colors throughout the evening.

At the reception area is an impressive two-story high chandelier constructed of thousands of individual fiber optic strands powered by 400 W color changing illuminators. Branding is prominent in this area both in the décor and through the use of Mania PR1 image projectors.

Main Arena
Catering to diverse preferences are genre-specific, themed rooms: Main Arena, Tunnel, Studio 54, Pure, Taittinger Sky Lounge, Smoove, and VIP Suites. The two-story high Main Arena is packed with state-of-the-art equipment including a massive water screen that serves to separate one of the bars from the dance floor and is used to project video images. The brief here was to accommodate all genres of music as well as corporate events and live performances. CX-10s as well as moving heads are focused on areas such as the stage and dance podiums. Movers take the form of MAC 600s for searchlight type effects and MAC 550s for mid air and branding. Added color comes from MAC 250 Washes. MX-10 scanners are employed both around the mezzanine and above the dance floor for fast moving and midair effects. Atomic 3000s with Atomic Colors scrollers complete the picture on the main rig with additional Atomics ocated behind the DJs.

Jem Hydra and Glaciator
A multi-headed Jem Hydra fog generator provides multiple effect points around the Main Arena’s dance floor. Individually controlled fog heads – in this instance eight - and an easy access base unit for easy refilling make for flexible fog delivery. Ideal for large areas the Hydra also makes smoke chases possible or enables the operator to put smoke exactly where needed. A five second blast is all it takes to fill the Main Arena in a thick coat of fog. High-output Jem AF-2 fans are used to disperse the smoke and help keep clubbers cool. A pair of Jem Glaciator heavy foggers are mounted either side of the DJ under the dance podiums to provide a low lying fog effect. The balcony that surrounds the Main Arena is where three variously designed VIP Suites and the invitation only Taittinger Sky Lounge are located.

Tunnel, Smoove, Studio 54, Pure
Behind the main bar is Tunnel, a distinctively shaped room strictly for privileged members of the Ministry. Primarily designed as a chill-out room, Tunnel is intimate and relaxing. Patrons chill to the sight of decorative water effects trickling down the walls courtesy of Mania DC1 water effects.

Neil designed Smoove to be a New York ghetto scene complete with integrated chain link fencing, rusted steel and rough concrete. Lighting is minimalistic with pinspots and a main concentration of lights above the dance floor. Martin CX-4 color and pattern changers are used to create breakups on the fencing while MAC 250 Kryptons, MAC 250 Washes, Mania SCX 600s, Mania DC1s and DC2s bring the space to life. Fog atmosphere and mid-air haze canopy come courtesy of a Jem ZR12.

Upstairs you arrive at retro Studio 54. Steve’s design is straight out of Saturday Night Fever with an LED dance floor working with modern day retro lighting effects such as Mania DC3 oil wheel images and psychedelic effects on the chain link around the walls. Mania SCX600 scanners light a myriad of mirror balls suspended above the dance floor. Additional effects come from Wizard Extreme effect lights and an Atomic strobe. A Jem ZR24/7 provides the atmospheric fog.

Overlooking the Main Arena is Pure, a room covered floor to ceiling in white. This chill room features circular ‘cocoons’ surrounded by white net curtains lit with LED uplights complemented by Alien 05 color changers downlighting the seating areas. For those who wish to dance, there is a small dance floor over which a chandelier is hung. Additional lighting effects come from Mania SCX500 scanners and Wizard Extremes with fog from a Jem ZR24/7. Lighting control throughout the club is from PC-based Martin LightJockeys.

Main Entrance:
1 x Mania PR1
4 x CX-10 Extreme
2 x MAC 700 Profile

Main Arena:
8 x MAC 250 Wash
4 x MAC 600 Wash
4 x MAC 550 Profile
16 x MX-10 Extreme
16 x CX-10 Extreme
4 x Atomic 3000
4 x Atomic Colors
1 x Jem Hydra (8 heads)
4 x Mania DC2
4 x AF-2 Fans
1 x LightJockey

Tunnel:
6 x Mania DC1

Smoove:
2 x MAC 250 Wash
4 x MAC 250 Krypton
4 x Mania SCX600
9 x CX-4
4 x Mania DC2
2 x Mania DC1
2 x Jem ZR12
1 x LightJockey

Studio 54:
8 x Mania SCX 600
4 x Wizard Extreme
1 x Atomic 3000
1 x Jem ZR 24/7
7 x Mania DC3
1 x LightJockey

Pure:
8 x Mania SCX500
2 x Wizard Extreme
1 x Jem ZR24/7
7 x Alien 05
1 x LightJockey