Created for the London Festival of Architecture and Pride in London, Rainbow After the Storm was a temporary pavilion designed by a team of young architects from Foster + Partners. Located within the grounds of St Anne's Church in Soho, the installation celebrated diversity, resilience and togetherness while exploring the parallels between the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Conceived as a journey from darkness to light, the pavilion invited visitors to pass through a series of colourful woven portals that gradually opened into a bright communal space. The experience reflected the fear, uncertainty and isolation associated with both health crises, while ultimately delivering a message of hope, connection and collective strength.
As a sponsor of the project, LightGraphix supported the installation by donating LD151 uplights to help bring the design to life after dark. Working alongside Foster + Partners and the wider project team, the lighting was carefully integrated into the temporary structure to reveal the texture, depth, and vibrant colour of the woven rope installation while preserving the pavilion's lightweight visual character.
The compact, low-glare LD151 was selected for its shallow depth and ability to deliver discreet, carefully controlled illumination while remaining visually unobtrusive within the temporary structure. Specified in a warm 2700K colour temperature, the luminaires enhanced the richness of the woven rope installation and contributed to the welcoming atmosphere at the heart of the pavilion. As the installation evolved, the lighting positions were refined on-site to maximise illumination of the colourful rope structure. This enhanced the pavilion's transformation after dark and reinforced its distinctive visual identity.
As daylight faded, the installation took on a new character. Carefully controlled illumination highlighted the sweeping curves of the structure and intensified the rainbow palette, making the pavilion a vibrant focal point within the church gardens. The lighting supported the project's narrative, guiding visitors through a sequence of spaces that moved from intimacy and reflection towards openness and celebration.
Delivered under tight budget and programme constraints, the project brought together architects, designers, volunteers and industry partners in a collaborative effort to realise the winning competition entry. The LightGraphix contribution helped support a memorable public installation that demonstrated how lighting can reinforce architectural storytelling and enhance the visitor experience after dark.
Designed with sustainability and circular-economy principles in mind, the pavilion was dismantled after the event, with materials and components repurposed for future use. The project demonstrated how carefully integrated lighting can support meaningful public spaces while contributing to a wider conversation around community, inclusion and design.
Foster + Partners
London Festival of Architecture and Architecture LGBT+
St Anne's Church, Soho, London
LD151
