The Czech house has taken over the entire Business Design Centre building in Islington.

Czech National TV’s Olympic broadcast studio is located there, and the Pavilion features massive screens so the public can enjoy all the best of the Olympic action, together with food, beer, wine and digestives, chess, streetball, art, Czech Team merchandising and a host of other cultural offerings including a stage for live bands, DJs and other entertainment, with sociability high on the agenda.

AV Media’s Project Manager Filip Klein explains that when they  won the contract to co-ordinate all the technicals for the Czech House, it was a ‘no brainer’ that they would specify lighting from the Czech Republic’s best known entertainment technology manufacturer!

Apart from this, with no air conditioning in the venue, it was essential that they utilised low heat emitting lightsources to keen the room at comfortable temperatures for everyone’s enjoyment .

The English summer, with temperatures soaring into the 30s, finally arrived in time for the Games!

AV Media also already has Robe products in its inventory, “We like Robe not just because it’s Czech,” says Klein, “But because it’s reliable and really excellent quality kit”. With the Czech House running for 14 hours a day, all the kit was worked extremely hard for the two week installation.

The new purchases include a selection of Robe’s latest ROBIN series products,  - 20 x ROBIN 1200 LEDWash and 40 x ROBIN 600 LEDWash, 6 MMX Spots and 8 ROBIN 600E Beams. These are utilized  together with AV Media’s existing ColorSpot and Wash 700E AT fixtures and ColorSpot 2500E ATs.

In addition to this, five stunning curved set pieces used to divide up the space into separate areas – and like the Czech Team clothing  designs, inspired by the work of artist František Kupka - are illuminated with a variety of internally mounted Anolis LED fixtures.

These are a mix of 60 Anolis ArcLine 80MC soft whites and ArcLine Outdoor optic 80 MCs.

The environmental lighting is further enhanced with Robe CitySkape Xtremes and CityFlex 48s positioned all around the space.

The majority of the moving lights are hung on a series of trusses installed in the roof of the Business Design Centre, and used to light  the various areas, all controlled via two grandMA2 consoles.

The entire rig pulls only around an expedient 180 Kw of power!

“Apart from the low power consumption and minimal heat emissions, the Robe and Anolis rig gives all the flexibility needed to light the different areas for a variety of events and functions throughout the period.”

The supply was co-ordinated for Robe and Anolis by Petr Kolmačka, who says, “We are really proud to be involved with the Czech House and supporting our Olympic team. AV Media have delivered an amazing job of ensuring the space looks visually interesting and funky ”.

Czech House has been hugely popular, attracting up to 4000 visitors a day to enjoy the hospitality and good vibes as well as to cheer on the Czech team.

Apart from all the activities inside the Czech House, outside, controversial Czech sculptor David Černý's “London Booster” installation – a genuine 1957 London bus fitted with mechanical arms allowing it to do press ups – has attracted massive attention and really captured the public imagination!

Associated Press journalist Jill Lawless was certainly impressed in her review of Olympic Houses ….. saying  “So far the gold medal goes to the Czech House …….. for transforming a conference venue in north London …… into a giant party playpen”.* (citation below)

Citation: http://www.wsbtv.com/ap/ap/entertainment/olympic-houses-turn-london-into-global-party/nP8kW/