Nerves weren’t exactly frazzled but there was definite excitement in the air on the day of the shoot. This day would be the culmination of months of hard work and we were hoping to achieve many things which would give The Hub the go-ahead as a truly innovative and viable design. Nick, a seasoned insomniac, was up by 4am!
Julian, one of the local cabinet-makers who had so painstakingly crafted on each part of The Hub, was on hand to train up the installation team from Quest who had to learn each intricate step of piecing together the key parts. We were delighted that this complex process took under three hours – not bad for first time putter-uppers! It was also the first time that we were able to see how the amendments from the first prototype performed. From the first trial, Nick amended the tunnel structure and ceiling beams, as well as the electrics. If he was nervous about this he hid it well, but there was an audible sigh of relief when he could see that it all worked perfectly!
No problems with the installation meant that the rest of the photography and video shoot could go ahead as planned. At each major stage of the installation, photographs were taken so it would be possible to see how The Hub fits together, and the precision with which each component part works. Making sure that the glass panels fit together tightly is a crucial part – this ensures that there are no gaps for sound to escape. The final stage in preparing The Hub was to ‘dress’ it using a borrowed Louis Poulsen pendant light, a thick carpet from Ege carpets, and electrics from OE.
Not surprisingly, the real fun came with the making of the video. We didn’t know what talent we had in our midst until they started to perform! Arriving straight from school, fresh from exams and PE clubs, our team of impromptu actors and musicians came willing to give it their best shot. They always say, ‘Never work with children or animals’, but we were really impressed with these five children who did a fantastic job – even if they did go a little off brief one or twice!
Four simple tests were carried out. Millie and Theo improvised a short conversation (with a definite ‘Made in Chelsea’ flavour to it!), John and Seb, really getting into the swing of things, performed a hand clap test and a balloon test, and then Florence, with great flair and poise, gave a rendition of ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ on her cornet – a piece she chose herself and which actually couldn’t have been more apt! Each test was performed outside The Hub and then inside, with sound measurements taken each time by Alan from Cambridge Acoustics. The results showed a very convincing and significant difference in the quality and level of sound, proving without doubt the acoustic efficacy of The Hub. Phew! High fives all round! To say that we were thrilled is an understatement. The Hub was now ready to roll…