CÁLEM Experience, Porto

Project description
Cálem is a traditional brand of fine wines known for its famous Port. The winery is located in the city of Porto on the south bank of the Douro River and has become famous for its successive international awards. Cálem was founded in 1859 by António Alves Cálem, who took advantage of the liberal trade regime in the Douro region. The winery is still family-owned and is now a well-known tourist attraction in the city. Cálem commissioned Imagination from London to create a unique and fascinating museum with a cellar tour, a tasting experience, a business area and a shop. Imagination, the world's leading expert in brand experiences, planned the following (in close collaboration with the family that owns the business): He wanted to create a flowing path through the museum, where visitors move on their own, into the atmospheric cellars, where visitors enter a tasting area and finally a retail shop. The lighting should emphasise the winding path in form and function. In addition, the lighting needed to interact with other services such as the sound system, loudspeaker systems and projectors, and also with multi-adjustable spotlights with optics to match the illuminated surfaces and/or exhibits. Spectral proposed the H80 profile system, which can be curved to match the visitor pathway and given a unique textured colour finish to harmonise with the planned colours and textures. All cables can be concealed in the upper channel to avoid unsightly cable clutter on the solid ceilings. Key priorities for the lighting design were set at the beginning of the process. Good colour rendering was essential - especially to bring out the textures of the vaulted cellar. Particular attention was paid to the overwhelming huge oak barrels. Care was also taken to avoid harsh lighting, as many screens and projectors were included in the experience and reflections would be unpleasant for visitors. The client showed great interest in a spotlight system with full rotation capability and various beam options for future exhibitions. Further lighting elements were required for the Fado experience, where visitors can sample fine wines and the client uses the area as a hospitality space. An impressive curved staircase provides a grand entrance to the tasting area and subtle LED step lights enhance the dramatic effect. To emphasise the texture of the stone walls in this area, closely offset pendant luminaires were chosen. Only the trimless recessed reflectors from the Doolip range interrupted the wood-panelled ceiling. In addition to the curved H-profile system, Stora LK from Spectral was selected above the tasting tables to provide a more diffuse yet stronger light for better perception. These luminaires were also used in the shop area to complement the dramatic sweeping curve of the H profile system.

Ort
Porto, Portugal

Year of construction
2018

Subject area
Art+Culture