Pro Display has recently completed a project to provide technology solutions for the Chapel Restaurant at the newly refurbished Bodmin Jail Hotel, in Cornwall.
The hotel wanted to create a bright and inviting environment during the day that showcased the history of the building, with the option of producing a unique visual experience in the evening. Over the course of three days, Pro Display applied its Front Projection Switchable Film to the glass in the prison’s former chapel, seamlessly integrating the wiring into the structure to preserve the authentic décor. Each 4m-high window was fitted with safety glass to protect the the Grade II-listed building’s original glazing.
During the day, the film is switched to clear, using a remote control that can be operated from up to 25m away, to let the daylight shine through, showing off the original chapel windows. Of an evening, the film is turned off, returning the glass to its opaque appearance to provide the perfect canvas for front projections. Using high-powered projectors to produce images that covered not only the Smart Glass Windows, but also the entire roof, while diners enjoy a view of constellations and period art works.
Ben Hadfield, Pro Display’s chief operating officer, said: “This project is the perfect example of how our technologies can be integrated effectively into any environment, even a Grade II-listed building.”
The £50 million refurbishment of the former jail covered the rebuilding of the collapsed roof, as well as the restoration of the interior features that had crumbled away over the years. With the main walls of the four-storey building still intact, the cells were combined into sets of three, to create 70 luxurious rooms.
