LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/289392
64 Landscape Architect and Specifier News Built in 1825, the Governor Thomas Bennett House www.governorthomasbennetthouse.com on 69 Barre Street in Charleston is an architectural masterpiece of that era, noted for its ornamentation plasterwork, and free-flying staircase, only one of two in the city. Now, 188 years later, the venerable home is among the favorites in Charleston, South Carolina historic district. The home has been beautifully restored, and plays host to some of Charleston's most extraordinary weddings and social events. A native of Charleston, Thomas Bennett Jr. served as governor of South Carolina from 1820 to1822. After his term, he returned to Charleston where he built what is now this notable home, the Governor Thomas Bennett House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After much time and dedication had been devoted to the interior of the home, Moonlighting www. moonlightinglls.com was called upon to aid in the restoration of the outdoor lighting. There was an existing outdoor lighting system prior to Moonlighting getting involved, but it was in great need of attention. The director of the Thomas Bennett House, Linda McCormick, expressed that maintenance costs were an issue, and that the overall lighting layout was not capturing all of the beauty the garden had to offer. Conversion to LEDs As Moonlighting was not the original lighting installer, several hours of diagnosing and researching the existing wiring was required, plus determining how much lighting could be reused. To help manage costs, Moonlighting elected to reuse some of the existing fixtures. As maintenance costs were a major concern, and the largest overall cost of light maintenance is constant bulb replacements, Moonlighting included in Top Left & Right The crape myrtle grove of six trees is lit with four up lights in between the trees and one directly in the middle with the intent of lighting the entire canopy. The front two crape myrtles and the rear two crape myrtles are down lit only. The up lights (existing fixtures) are lamped with 5-watt LEDs with 40-degree spreads. The down lights have Vista fixtures with 4-watt LEDs and 60-degree spreads. Right The ivy-covered wall is washed with Universal fixtures with Dauer 2.4-watt LEDs. The crape myrtle (left) is up and downlit with the existing fixture lamped with a 5-watt LED (30 degree spread), and a Vista downlight fixture with a Brilliance 4-watt LED (60-degree spread). The fig tree (right) is downlit with a single 4-watt LED (60-degree spread). The pulled back image shows the same area, but with a view of the house lit with three existing fixtures, relamped with 4-watt LEDs (40-degree spreads). (Continued on page 66) 62-69.indd 64 3/26/14 2:35 PM