Astera Joins the New Skoda Octavia Party Launch The new -- fourth-generation -- Skoda Octavia was launched in a blaze of glory to a VIP audience and the global press in the Czech Republic at the Prague National Gallery's Trade Fair Palace. Lighting designer Michael Kuehbandner created a lighting scheme for a special presentation show attended by 700 guest and media throngs. Included in his brief was also lighting a number of periphery areas covering the entrance, reception, and after-show display, for which he specified over 200 Astera wireless LED fixtures. This included the venue's impressive and vast six-storey atrium and ridged roof space which was used for the after-show, complete with a display area on the ground floor with four Skoda Octavias, a bar and drinks section and a band stage, where everyone could mingle, network, and socialize before and after the main launch show. Kuehbandner's lighting plot utilized 218 AX7 battery powered LED SpotLites -- a PAR-style fixture -- and a kit of 12 Astera Titan Tubes. All fixtures were run wirelessly. The venue is primarily a museum with a café in the entrance area, and due to the layout and day-to-day functionality of the building, it was not possible to run long lengths of power or data cabling, so this lighting rig was designed to beautifully highlight the large space and striking architecture ... had to be wireless. Eighty-four of the AX7s -- 21 per floor -- were deployed across the middle four floors of the atrium (the first and sixth floors could not be used) for up-lighting the balcony ceilings and structural columns, creating a smooth glow of color around the top of the building. This helped to transform the space from modernist functionality into a dynamic and vibrant environment ideal for capturing the special after-show vibes. The AX7s were all sitting on the floors, and the atrium lighting was supported by LED wash moving lights on stands and also on the balconies, with glass and steel roof illuminated by static LED washes. The other 138 AX7s were utilized to light the walls of the various catering areas, mainly as up-lighters. The Titan Tubes were set up behind the band stage -- their bottom ends mounted on mic stands to vary the heights -- to bring structure, funkiness, and depth to an otherwise mono-dimensional space. They were pixel-mapped via an MA Lighting grandMA2 console running all lighting across the after-show area, operated by Marek Papke. When the band played, their lights and the wider environmental lighting including the AX7s lighting the balconies were all utilized to energize the space. "We needed a quality, reliable wireless solution," explained Kuehbandner. Kuehbandner lights several high-profile events across the automotive sector plus music shows, concerts, and theatre productions. He frequently used Astera products for gala events like this, and for lighting outdoor elements like trees, foliage, and structures. "The fixtures are extremely quick and easy to use in any situation. They are well made, the IP65 rating is perfect for external use, and the quality of light and effects are great," he stated. Kuehbandner was working for the Skoda Octavia launch's technical producers adhoc engineering from Germany. He and a large creative and technical team were led by the event's creative director Achim John from Jack Morton Worldwide together with a show direction team from Quinton's Concept. The production design was by marketing / communications agency Fischer Appelt in collaboration with leading global brand experience specialist, Jack Morton Worldwide. Lighting equipment supply, including the Asteras, was coordinated by AVE-PRO. 
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