Project Spotlight – St. Barnabas Church, Long Beach, CA
The opportunity to illuminate the bell tower of St. Barnabas Church, in Long Beach, CA, was both unique and exciting. The architecture presented artistic opportunities and obstacles and timing of the project was immediately preceding the churches 80th anniversary celebration. Needless to say, there was much emotional investment from the staff and patrons of the church. And then there is the gravity and significance of light imagery and pageantry that is beautifully infused into the Christian faith.
Historically, church bell towers have served many purposes. For instance, there was a time that church bells ringing from lowest pitch to highest pitch in successive order would have signaled to the local community that they were under attack. For centuries bells have been ringing to announce dangers, such as fires and storms, as well as celebrations for wedding and other special occasions. The more modern context of church bells would be to remind the community that they are cared for, to identify times of day with religious significance, or simply to make a joyful noise.
We wanted our lighting design to be as dramatic and rich as the history behind the church bell tower itself. To capture the character of the 80 foot structure, we chose warm lamp temperatures – which played very well with the earthy tones of the exterior – and several imaginative uses of directional lighting. Brass and bronze fixtures blend into the architecture and their durability will stand the test of time.
From ground level and the roofline of the sanctuary and vestibule, narrow-beam grazing of the walls offers perspective for the majestic height of the tower. As the blanket of light cascades up the tower walls, highlights and shadows define the blemishes and beauty of the 1930’s construction. The cast lines and pitted nature of the exterior transport us back in time. There is a certain and timeless charm found in the imperfections and flaws.
Sharp uplighting was used to carve out the definition of the arches on all four sides of the belfry. Inside the belfry a cross-lighting technique takes advantage of the light-colored (and therefore highly reflective) interior, creating a glow that pours from the bell housing.
Crowning the top of the bell tower is a 15 foot cross. The golden surface of the cross is highlighted from two sides. Though the cross is slender and elegant, it is clearly defined. Now, permeating the dark night sky, the tower can be seen from miles and miles away.
If you are interested in more information about Architectural Lighting, please contact 310.940.0731 or email info@californiaoutdoorlighting.com.