Sweden - Martin Professional Exterior 400 and Exterior 1200 image projectors are helping bring a legendary Swedish epic tale to life on the slopes of Åre Ski Area in central Sweden. Beginning with last year's 2011/2012 ski season, skiers at Åre can experience In the Footsteps of Giants, a night-time guided ski tour for children - or kids of all ages - that retells the local legend of the Giants, the legendary creators of the Norse gods.
In the Footsteps of Giants was conceptualized by Kai Piippo of Ljusarkitektur of Stockholm who has integrated dynamic lighting on a family slope as an integral part of the story telling. Besides creating an after-dark activity for children when entertainment possibilities are limited, the tour continues a tradition of centuries of storytelling, spoken-word folklore that combines with the surrounding landscape - including lighting - to create a memorable experience.
The slope is illuminated in blue light with dynamic projection from LED Exterior 400 and an Exterior 1200, used to visually support the story at certain points.
An important part of the tale reminiscences of a burning valley and fire beneath the surface of the mountain, an effect which Ljusarkitektur illustrates using pattern projection from an Exterior 400, supplied for this project with a custom animation wheel.
Mounted on a pole atop a rise, the Exterior casts a 7m wide glowing fire effect down onto the slope. Fully-weatherproofed, the LED image projector casts over 7000 lumens of power and houses up to six replaceable designs and up to eight interchangeable colours. Another use of the image projectors involves a moving image projected onto snow in the forest that hints at something magical, a secret spot where the Giants have hidden a treasure.
The In the Footsteps of Giants trail, which can be enjoyed during standard night skiing or as part of the guided tour, proved popular in its first season. The project, a cooperation between Ljusarkitektur, installer Johnsons El of Åre, and Martin Professional, continues into the 2012/2013 ski season with a new design that will have additional effects from more Exterior 400 image projectors.
