Waddesdon Manor lit up with festive splendor

Image credit: i101 Digital and A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd.

WOKINGHAM, England – Christie^® HS Series projectors powered a sparkling seasonal projection mapping experience at Waddesdon Manor, a 19th century Grade 1 listed National Trust site in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Yes Events deployed 11 Christie DWU23-HS 1DLP^® laser projectors – supplied by Christie partner A.C. Entertainment Technologies – to map the stunning 10-minute content designed by mapping expert Jamie Shiels. The content, inspired by the festive season and popular children’s books, was projected onto the façade of the French Renaissance-style Loire chateau for festive revellers to enjoy as part of a ‘Christmas at Waddesdon’ experience.

“Yes Events has been working with the National Trust at Waddesdon Manor for several years, and they previously explored the idea of projecting onto the building, but everything came together this year to bring it to life,” says Stuart Burdett, Video Sales Manager, AC Entertainment Technologies. “It really helped to create a Christmas storytelling event, and elevated the entire experience and atmosphere. The projectors have been great. We were delighted with the colours, the balance is great and it’s very vibrant on the building. It has been great to see it creating some ‘wow’ moments, with lots of smiling faces in the crowd and people taking photos.”

Waddesdon Manor was open to the public over the Christmas period, allowing visitors to see the site’s grand interior rooms, enjoy some of the range of festive food that’s on offer, take in the outdoor light trail, and view the outdoor mapping experience. The ‘Once Upon a Time’ theme for the latest season took inspiration from iconic children’s books such as Alice in Wonderland, The Snow Queen, and Peter Pan.

The Manor’s stunning façade includes many uneven surfaces, creating an installation and content challenge. An existing laser scan of the building was incorporated into media software, allowing the team to visualize where to locate the projector towers before going on-site. The team also had to consider the issue of fog potentially blocking the projection, so they ensured the projectors were not positioned too far from the building.

“Yes Events first purchased Christie projectors from us five years ago,” adds Burdett. “They really enjoyed having the H Series in their fleet, and now, the HS Series allows them to go brighter and switch to the benefits of laser technology, while keeping the same lens suite and accessories. It was a natural fit to continue with Christie.”

The team spent a week on site for setup and were able to align the projectors – used in portrait mode – within a few evenings.

The Christie DWU23-HS provides 23,650 lumens, and offers a powerful, reliable, and cost-effective option for high-use applications. With the addition of new BoldColor+^™ technology, colors are brighter and bolder, with deeper blacks and more natural and realistic images.