Heidi Ride Plopsaland De Panne
Painting with Light is delighted to be able to add its own touches of magic and excitement for thrill-seekers enjoying ‘Heidi The Ride’, the stunning new 71 km/h wooden roller coaster at the heart of Heidiland, a new area at the Plopsaland De Panne theme park in Belgium.
Challenge
Heidi The Ride soars majestically up to 22 metres high with a track of 618 metres, and her commanding position at the end of the park also demanded that she had a beacon-like appearance for all – both park visitors and passers-by - to see at night. In addition to the imaginative elements, there were the practicalities of the installation – the fixtures needed to be IP rated for outdoor use, tough to withstand the general environment … and accessible for maintenance.
Result
After considerable research and testing, Luc created a lighting scheme which involves three layers – internal (inside), external with a selection of fixtures grazing up the sides of the structure … and thirdly some oblique lights to illuminate the drama of the ramps. Most of the lights are positioned on the ground, embedded into or rigged on concrete blocks so they can be easily reached and serviced as necessary. The stylish results of the lighting scheme speak for themselves as Heidi’s voluptuous curvature defines that section of the park, providing an important reference point and an impressive, shimmering landmark.
