Tidemarker is a striking architectural glass sculpture that celebrates the ebb and flow of the tide in Haverfordwest’s historic inland port. Created by artist Kirsty Brooks, the installation was envisioned as a piece brought alive through movement, colour and light. Working closely with James Poore Lighting Design (JPLD) and Architainment Lighting, Kirsty was able to transform this vision into a dynamic, illuminated landmark on the Western Quayside.
The collaboration began at Kirsty’s studio in Pewsey, where early lighting mock‑ups tested how the RGBW LED fixtures would interact with her layered glass panels. Using a single panel as a prototype, Architainment connected the lighting control system and demonstrated how colour transitions and movement could mirror the sculpture’s tidal theme.
Guided by Kirsty, the team created the first programmed lighting sequences, including white, warm white and colour‑based concepts. These formed the foundation for the final shows installed on site.
Building the System: Pharos Lighting Control A pair of Pharos LPC controllers, fitted in an ArchiPower enclosure, formed the brains of the lighting system. During the studio phase, Architainment set up the base programming and registered the project on ArchiCloud, enabling remote monitoring, updates and management.
These sessions allowed Kirsty to explore how light interacted with her glass designs and to fine‑tune the tempo, movement and atmosphere of each lighting sequence.
In mid‑February, one of our Technical Services team travelled to Haverfordwest for on‑site commissioning. With the sculpture installed and powered, focus shifted to calibration. Each vertical lighting run was adjusted to harmonise with the translucency of the artwork, ensuring patterns remained legible both day and night.
The programmed shows were refined into three primary modes:
· Mono tide show – a flowing sequence reflecting the predicted tide position
· Red patterned event show – featuring dynamic conical pulses
· Cool turquoise static show – inspired by marine tones
One of Tidemarker’s most distinctive features is its tide‑responsive illumination. Our Technical Services team programmed the controller to interpret tide predictions and update the sculpture’s lighting accordingly, creating a visual dialogue between the artwork and the natural environment.
Additional scheduling was added for sunrise, sunset and overnight dimming to ensure the piece is always presented at its best.
Using the ArchiCloud interface, Kirsty can now manage and adapt the lighting in real time: switching modes, adjusting settings and shaping how the sculpture behaves through the seasons.
Standing on the Western Quayside, Tidemarker is now a luminous celebration of tide, light and place. The installation represents the successful collaboration between artist, lighting designers and engineers, blending creativity with technical precision. Architainment is proud to have supported Kirsty Brooks in bringing this evocative, tide‑inspired artwork to life.
