World’s Largest Indoor LED Illumination To Open In Blackpool – ILLUMINASIA
Opening next month, ILLUMINASIA is set to be Blackpool’s newest must-see attraction, and will be open year-round at the historic Winter Gardens. Organisers expect to receive more than 300,000 visitors per year.
Believed to be the world’s largest indoor illumination experience of its kind, ILLUMINASIA blends thousands of years of traditional Chinese lantern crafts with Blackpool’s long history of illuminations and the latest in LED lighting technology. Hundreds of incredible structures covering thousands of square meters within the Olympia Exhibition Hall will house more than 35,000 luminaires. A team of over 60 artisans is taking the raw materials of steel, coloured silk, cabling and thousands of LED lights to make the incredible structures that form the final attraction.
With a 13m (40ft) Blackpool Tower at its centre, visitors can explore six vibrant zones including ‘The Mysteries of China’, ‘The Blackpool Experience’, ‘The Planetarium’, ‘Land of the Giants’, ‘Under The Sea’ and ‘The Wonders Of The World’.
Designer Max Painter from Arcitectus worked with UK sculptor Leigh Dyer on the concept. According to Painter, “What we are producing is a complete first in the UK, probably in Europe. It is the biggest indoor illuminations there have ever been in the world.”
The Winter Gardens were founded in 1875 and officially opened in 1878, designed “to place on the land a concert room, promenades, conservatories and other accessories calculated to convert the estate into a pleasant lounge, especially desirous during inclement days”. Although the building has undergone many changes over the decades, this mission statement still holds true, and thousands of visitors a year enjoy this world-class venue, whose twelve different ballrooms, theatres and themed rooms harken back to Blackpool’s golden age as the epicentre of the British holiday and entertainment industry.
Winter Gardens boss Michael Williams said: “It is a great boost for the Winter Gardens and the resort overall. There is £3m of private funding coming in, mainly from America and China.”
The attraction will officially open to the public on Good Friday, 18th April 2014 and will then open daily with the exception of short-term closures to be announced.
Tickets will be on-sale online by clicking here, or by visiting the Winter Gardens Box Office in person or online at www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk.
22 Mar