Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Dadu Church

Project｜Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Dadu Church
Lighting Design｜ Cubee

Dadu is one of the earliest developed regions in central Taiwan, and its unique terrain has made it an important transportation hub for north-south travel since the Ming and Qing dynasties. From the well-known nightscape spot, Dadu Mountain, a ten-minute drive down the winding blue highway brings you to the Dadu Presbyterian Church at the foot of the mountain. This church has been spreading the gospel in the area for 120 years and has witnessed significant moments in Taiwan’s history, including World War II and the 228 Incident. It is an important representative of the local history and culture.

The fifth-generation church building has been standing for nearly 25 years. However, many of the outdoor lighting fixtures that were originally installed have been damaged and remain unrepaired, leaving only the light from the cross and a bulb at the entrance to illuminate the church at night. In contrast, street lamps, temples, and surrounding buildings use LED lighting, making them especially eye-catching at night. The stark contrast between light and dark further detracts from the beauty of the church’s architecture.

Our goal for the lighting renovation is to carry out this planning and improvement project within a limited budget, ensuring that the church retains its Gothic architectural features while restoring its noble and majestic aesthetic. At night, the church will glow with warm light, bringing brightness to the local believers in the darkness.

Evaluation and Selection 

The church is located in a relatively dark rural area at night. To help the building, which already has its own distinctive architectural features, gain more visibility, it is essential to focus the lighting in the right places. With the correct lighting placement, not only can the church’s beauty be highlighted, but it can also attract the attention of not only the congregation but also the general public, sparking feelings of joy and admiration. This, in turn, can inspire people to learn more about the church’s story.

Therefore, we need to select lighting fixtures that are adjustable in angle, using low wattage and narrow beam angles to ensure precision in the lighting. This will help illuminate the architectural features without scattering excess light, thereby preventing light pollution that could affect the quality of life of nearby residents at night.

Application Advantages

For this project, the CUBEE High Color Rendering Outdoor Floodlight was selected. Its key features are:

1. High Color Rendering: The light source has excellent color rendering, allowing the orange tile colors to be faithfully presented. The light color is vivid and saturated, creating a rich halo effect when projected onto white walls.

2. Special Long-Strip Light Shape: The unique long-strip design prevents light spill and allows for concentrated illumination of key areas, such as facade signage and ceiling corridors.

3. IP66 Waterproof Rating: The fixture is waterproof and dustproof, energy-efficient, and able to withstand long-term exposure to outdoor conditions, such as sun and rain, ensuring continuous and reliable operation.

Professional Design

For this project, we designed the lighting based on the following four considerations to achieve the best lighting effect within the church’s limited budget:

1. Improving the Environment
The existing lighting fixtures caused glare, which resulted in discomfort for the eyes, and the insufficient nighttime brightness raised safety concerns regarding pedestrian movement. In our lighting design, we took into account the close proximity of surrounding residential buildings, which could lead to light pollution. To address this, we specifically chose low-wattage fixtures with a 3000K warm light color, providing a soft, gentle glow that warms the heart without disturbing the surrounding area.

2. Energy Efficiency
Currently, the church only has the light from the cross and exposed bulbs at the entrance, which provide inadequate brightness and pose potential safety hazards. In the renovation plan, we replaced all these bulbs with energy-efficient LED fixtures and incorporated an intelligent timer. The lights are programmed to automatically turn on from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This not only significantly reduces energy consumption but also provides clear guidance for pedestrians and residents.

3. Reshaping the Architectural Image
The lighting fixtures used in this project focus on illuminating the arches on the fourth and fifth floors and the cross at the very top. The elliptical light pattern is projected onto the vertical signage, ensuring the light stays within a controlled range to avoid unnecessary spillover. This results in a clean and defined visual effect. By highlighting these key features, the church gains a more three-dimensional appearance, enhancing its visibility at night. The updated look imparts a youthful, vibrant atmosphere, dispelling the perception of a dull, aging building and reaffirming its role as an important landmark.

4. Local Sustainable Development
With the beautiful lighting atmosphere at night, the church will break down the sense of distance, allowing more people to appreciate its architectural grandeur. This will inspire joy and a desire to connect with the church, bringing inner peace. Additionally, it will encourage local residents to participate in evening gatherings or activities at the church, increasing community engagement. The church will continue to spread its positive energy, benefiting the cohesion of the community and enhancing the sense of belonging. Beyond energy savings and environmental benefits, the church’s rich history, beautiful natural surroundings, cultural heritage preservation, and community integration will make it an attractive and enduring place. It will continue to pass on the strength of its faith and community values, fostering long-term sustainability.

Conclusion

This project not only improves the quality of lighting and enhances community safety, but also strengthens the church’s image within the community. Through the use of new lighting technologies, the church is stepping into a new era. It serves not only as a practical example of local revitalization but also continues to reflect the glory of God, while fulfilling its mission to preserve historical features and cultural heritage.