Themed Environments
New Zealand Pavilion World Expo
Shanghai, China, 2009-10
This international showcase for New Zealand, based on the Expo theme of ‘Better Cities, Better Life’, is a highly technological interactive visitor experience. Working with the highly successful design and technical team from the 2005 Japan World Expo, Toulouse Ltd will be engaged to specify and install technical product for video, audio, and interactive components, electrical supply and reticulation, and design the overall theatrical lighting for the Pavilion, outdoor gardens and VIP areas.
New Zealand Pavilion, 2005 World Expo
Nagoya, Japan
The World Expo in Aichi Japan was opened to the public in March 2005 and ran until September 2005. The pavilion included a large AV presentation, as well as several interactive computer stations. A large cloud was suspended in the ceiling - 'Aotearoa, land of the long white cloud' - from which water fell onto a giant pounamu boulder. The pavilion also housed a full working kitchen and a VIP dining lounge. Toulouse Ltd was contracted as both the technical consultant and lighting designer for the pavilion. The lighting design included the specification of all products, including truss and rigging equipment. The design was theatrical in nature, and included the illumination of the white cloud - which was to appear internally luminous - and several sculptural elements as well as ambient safe-level egress lighting for the public.
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
Wellington, New Zealand
Technology design, Lighting Design and systems integration is the beginning of what Toulouse are responsible for at Zealandier - Karori Wild Life Sanctuary.
Waihi Gold Discovery Centre
Waihi, New Zealand
The Discovery Centre will be a nationally significant interactive visitor centre in the form of an underground experience, with the building constructed and buried within the land itself. Based around the famous Martha mine and telling the stories of the region, the centre will be exploring the impact that this precious metal has had on the country's economic, social and environmental landscape. Toulouse Ltd will be designing the lighting for the Centre and will be responsible for the commission of all technology - AV lighting and audio along with commission and installation.
Old St Pauls Cathedral
Wellington New Zealand
A small corner of the church is dedicated to telling the stories of the Old St Pauls Cathedral.
Toulouse were very proud to complete the exhibition package with lighting, audio and video.
Maori Rock Art Centre
Timaru, New Zealand
A new interactive visitor centre being developed in Timaru, the Maori Rock Art Centre opens a window on a previously hidden taonga of the region. Toulouse Ltd is designing the lighting for the centre and is responsible for specifying and installing technology.
Carter Observatory
Wellington, New Zealand
The soon to be refurbished Carter Observatory is a repository for New Zealand's national astronomical heritage. The revamp of the exhibition areas will put hi-tech interactive story telling at the fore of the visitor experience. Toulouse Ltd will design the lighting for the exhibition areas as well as specify, commission and install the technical components.
Hukawai
Franz Joseph, New Zealand
The Hukawai glacier centre and indoor ice-climbing wall opened in 2007 and offers the opportunity to experience the region's landscape, history and uncompromising terrain in a unique indoor environment. Part visitors' centre, part physical challenge, Hukawai is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Toulouse Ltd was commissioned as the technical consultant and supplier, and was engaged to design the lighting for the centre. LED fittings embedded in the ice were the key to giving climbers a sense of the true colour of the glacier.
Meridian Energy Visitors' & Education Centres
South Island, New Zealand
In 2006 Meridian Energy undertook the development of the Visitors' Centres at all of their key sites across New Zealand. The focus of the Centres is to tell the story of the company and to show how Meridian Energy utilise renewable energy sources in the generation of electricity for New Zealand. Toulouse Ltd was brought on board as the technical consultant and lighting designer for all of the Centres, including the specification of all AV, audio, and lighting components.
Te Puia, Te Whakarewarewa
Rotorua, New Zealand
Te Puia, located in the Te Whakarewarewa valley in Rotorua is one of the region's oldest and leading tourist attractions. The site exhibits a pre-European village that gives visitors a taste of life in the region before European settlement. Adjoining the village is a gallery of photos representing the history of the region and it's people. Te Puia underwent a major refurbishment and Toulouse Ltd was commissioned to design the lighting for the experience, as well as to consult on the technical componentry of the refurbishment.
Kiwi Nocturnal House Wellington City Zoo
Wellington, New Zealand
Toulouse Ltd was the lighting consultant and designer of the indoor Kiwi Habitat for the Wellington Zoo. The key challenge of the project was the implementation of reverse cycle - day for night, night for day - lighting. This reverse cycle was to allow the nocturnal animals to be 'awake' during the day, whilst maintaining sufficient solar lighting in the evening for the native forest to continue growing and thriving.
Other Themed environment projects
Lighting Consultant, Les Mills Gym - interior - Wellington, NZ
Lighting Consultant, Kawarau Bungy Experience, Queenstown, NZ
Lighting Consultant, Albatross Visitors' Centre, Dunedin, NZ
Lighting Designer, Les Mills Gym architectural exterior lighting - Wellington, NZ
Lighting Consultant, Pukekura Park - Taranaki, NZ
Lighting Consultant, Automated Puppet Theatre & Object theatre - Singapore
Lighting Consultant, Tamaki Tours - The Realm of Tane - Rotorua, NZ,
Consultant, Telecom KIT project, NZ
Lighting Designer, Lady Diana's Dresses - Wellington Convention centre, Wellington, NZ
