Space Center Bremen

As one of Europe’s most important center’s for space exploration, Bremen, Germany was a natural choice as home to Space Center Bremen, Europe’s largest indoor theme park. Opened earlier this year, Space Center guests experience high-tech attractions that reflect the excitement of space travel and adventure.

The Center’s attractions include six separate ride areas, an IMAX theatre and a visually stunning central Hub area. Specifically seeking an experienced lighting designer with an active theatrical and show background, lighting designer Durham Marenghi was called upon to create a lighting scheme for all the ride areas, the entrance corridor and the central Hub Show.

Working closely with the project’s head of design, Bill Gorgensen, and operating from an original design and lighting concept by Landmark, Marenghi’s task was to review and update the park wide lighting scheme and completely redesign several areas that had changed beyond recognition from the original plans.

The Hub Show, a son et lumiere on a large globe that displays the magnificence of the universe in multi-colored light, is one of the visual highlights of the center. As the aesthetic centerpiece, Marenghi decided on the flexibility of a large moving light system to bring the sphere to life.

Marenghi used a range of Martin fixtures to achieve the desired effect – MAC 2000 Profiles, MAC 2000 Performances, MAC 300 and 600 washlights, MiniMACs - and other automated lighting. Because the lighting brief called for discreet lighting fixtures, he dressed the moving lights in silver finishes to match the metalwork. Customized additions were also added like MAC 600s with special light-directing fins, resembling space age barn doors. LED and lasers are also incorporated with lighting control from a Wholehog II. Stage Electrics supplied most of the lighting kit including the moving lights to Ratz Atelier. UK-based Electrosonic designed, specified and commissioned the technical infrastructure.

Marenghi commented “The extensive and innovative range of the Martin products coupled with their reliability was fundamental to the design’s success. Any designer is only ever as good as the equipment and technicians who realize the design, and the lighting for Space Centre Bremen has received wide critical acclaim.”

Marenghi was supported by Nick Jones as associate LD along with Dave Bartlett and Inigo Espejel. Tony Simpson worked with CAD/visuals and WYSIWYG.