Neuron Pod, Queen Mary University of London

“It’s what we hoped and dreamed about. It’s iconic, controversial, fun and extremely practical.”
Professor Fran Balkwill, Queen Mary University of London

Part of world-famous Centre of the Cell Education and Research unit at Queen Mary University of London.

The Neuron Pod is the newest addition to the complex. Designed by inspirational architect Will Alsop of all Design. This educational and lecturing pod is designed to look like a living organism. All internal and external lighting is designed by Sutton Vane Associates. It is covered in flexible hair-like dendrites that all sway and move in the wind. The dendrites dim up and down and change colour.

Each hair is an acrylic tube, in which is an optical fibre, with a translucent cap at the end. There was much experimentation to find a construction that could sway in a breeze, and not too much in a hurricane. The hairs were fed outwards from the inside so the seals and fixings are all invisible.

The fibre optics are kept to the higher areas so that students cannot reach them. This is why downlights are used for the underside, these are fibre optic powered so they match the colours and feel of the dendrites. The fibre optic projectors are controlled by DMX. Sometimes they have slow colour changes, sometimes they twinkle and sparkle, Morse code inspired some of the sequences.

Internally the lighting is fun. Dimmable fittings on the ceiling look like arrays of cells, they provide 3,000K white light for working or taking notes in lectures. These lights were positioned and aimed to catch random parts of the sculpture and let enough light through to light the people below. The walls can be washed in any colour to add more fun. The lights do not cause glare, they are DMX controlled so fast effects can be achieved if needed.

The open topped elevated walkway that leads into the pod is lit from the handrail to keep lighting equipment out of sight from below.