Cover 1_rto4 - Illuminating Engineering Society

decor progresses east to west, from Craftsman to Art Deco to
California Eclectic styles, and ultimately connects with the
urban-modern design of the Disneyland Hotel on the far west
end. So, the lighting had to psychologically support the visual
changes taking place, said Francis Krahe, president and owner
of Laguna Beach-based Francis Krahe and Associates, the lighting
firm tasked with fitting Disney’s lighting needs.
“We essentially created two districts,” said Krahe. “The east
side Garden District has a Tivoli Garden feel and has the history
of the Arts and Crafts movement reflected in the architecture.
We used a lot of warm-tone, white light and tried to
create a great deal of sparkle to reinforce the idea of a romantic,
peaceful setting.”
In this area, Xenon lights, or twinkle lights, are subtly positioned
in the trees, and uplighting accentuates the canopy of
50-year-old, transplanted ficus trees that line the walkway.
Perhaps one of the most unique lighting elements that is carried
throughout the development also starts here with the first
of many leaf-shaped planters that double
as seat walls.
“Throughout the entire esplanade,
we placed fiber optic lights within a
groove beneath the seat walls. The
lights change color depending on
which district — or environment —
you happen to be in,” said Krahe. “I
think this was extremely effective in
establishing one, integrated expression
for Downtown Disney. The idea
was to create atmosphere, not effect,
with the lighting.”
The seat walls begin in the Garden
District and emanate a warm, white
glow that changes hue with each step
west toward the Wine Bar District and
the more energized, tropical spaces of
the Paradise Plaza and the West End
District. Progressively, the seat walls
project hues that complement the
spirit of each area.
In the Paradise Plaza area, ambers,
yellows, oranges, blues and purples
can be found within view of more
vibrant venues such as Ralph
Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, The House of
Blues and the Latin Jazz club, Yarriba!
Yarriba! This area also begins to
employ more neon lighting within signage and on facades,
which along with the music spilling onto the walkway, also
adds to the visual fiesta.
Colorful west end
A few steps away, the West End district of Downtown Disney
is stage to a colorful hub of venues such as Lego Imagination
Center, Rainforest Café and the ESPN Zone. Here, a last minute
design decision to apply dramatic theater lighting to a 60 ft
Sorcerer’s hat (representing Sorcerer Mickey of Fantasia fame)
adds to the dimension and frivolity of the district.
“We needed some soft accent lighting on the hat and we
needed to apply it from sources that wouldn’t overpower our
guests,” said Francis Krahe and Associates senior project manager,
Paul Butler. “We applied two 1,000 W, narrow-beam,
metal halide accent lights from the top of the adjacent ESPN
building. The hat also was uplighted.”
With landscaping as the dominant design element of
(right) ESPN Zone is the country’s premier
sports entertainment concept. It includes
hi-tech satellite transmitters and receivers,
video cameras, more than 165 video
monitors and fully functional radio
and live television broadcast facilities.
(above) The World of Disney has one of the
world’s largest collections of exclusive
Disney merchandise. Its highly themed
interior is colorful and lively, in keeping
with playful Disney characters.
50 LD+A/May 2001 www.iesna.org