Back-lit stretched-fabric ceiling

Editor note

A specialist stretched-fabric ceiling system with integrated backlighting runs the full 3,900 sq ft of APL SoHo's main floor. The material is functionally critical to the amphitheatre's register: the diffused light produced by the system turns the curving artisan plaster perimeter into a gallery-adjacent surface, softens the Roman travertine base, and makes the five vanity rooms read as lit chambers rather than dressing cubicles. Without the ceiling, the amphitheatre form would collapse into strong directional lighting — the panoptic product visibility argument needs even light to work. Barrisol is the manufacturer at this category register — the case study's Design & Build budget reasoning estimated £200k-£400k for the APL system. UK trade is through Barrisol Welch, the documented UK distributor (Class B-s1,d0 / B-s2,d0 Euroclass per the manufacturer's published fire-rating data, finish-dependent — critical for a back-lit ceiling at flagship area). Specifying at this register goes through the manufacturer or distributor directly; spec includes membrane finish (matte / satin / mirror), backlit colour temperature, and integrated bracket geometry.

Specification notes

• Stretched-fabric ceiling, backlit, diffused
• Full 3,900 sq ft main floor coverage
• Critical to panoptic product visibility argument
• Manufacturer: Barrisol (France); UK distribution via Barrisol Welch (London)
• Project budget context (APL SoHo): £200k-£400k installed for the 3,900 sq ft system
• Fire rating: Class B-s1,d0 to B-s2,d0 Euroclass per manufacturer disclosure (finish-dependent)