The Night Train
Night Train is a piece of kinetic event infrastructure built to host events and act as a beacon of change for a derelict brewery in the centre of the small town of Cesis, Latvia.
The structure is made entirely of locally sourced Latvian pine and comprises two main elements. A 13 meter long raised track, which is a table at the lower end and a viewing platform at the other. And a mobile timber framed ‘carriage’ containing a lamp shrouded in a fine light-defusing timber fringe.
Tutors: Niklavs Paegle, Theodore Molloy, Thomas Randall–Page
Students: Craig Ross, Hilly Murrell, Jennifer Aitken, Jonah Maxted, Konrad Weka, Luīze Rukšane, Mirela Purim, Ruby Sleigh, Signe Pelne, Tara Bewley, Vineeta Mudunuri and Yulia Ratushnyak
Published:
http://inhabitat.com/glowing-night-train-is-a-beacon-of-change-made-from-local-latvian-materials/
.The four stages of the event structure are as follows:
i. Table Lamp - Early in the evening as the guests are arriving the lanterns light acts as a visual magnet
drawing people in from the entrance to the brewery. As they draw closer, a table of welcome drinks comes in to view bathed in light from the carriage above.
ii. Beacon - After some hours and as dusk gives way to night the carriage is moved along and section of the roof is opened to illuminate the massive brick chimney. This towering structure now acts as a beacon and the lantern encourages guests up to explore the walkway. It is well known that the real party always takes place on the stairs or in the corridor and this narrow structure provides a great venue for interaction.
iii. Stage - At the next station the party really crescendos. The carriage moves to a position where it addresses a larger clear area beneath, and here the fringe is parted to allow it to be used as a DJ stage. The light from this opening illuminates what is now a dance floor below.
iv. Lantern - Finally after the last track is played and the last drink is drunk the carriage moves to its terminus. Cantilevering out over the boundary wall the night train now floods light into the Castle Park. The lantern rests in this location both attracting curiosity about the brewery form the unknowing and housing memories for those who were there that night!
