70|APUNTES Maggies Cancer Caring Centres: variation in light intensity and flexibility in control Maggies Cancer Caring Centres are drop-in centres where people, including patients, friends and family can get the comprehensive support they need to help them to live with and beyond cancer. Of the fourteen centres across the UK, the most recent - designed by the Cullinan Studio -opened in 2013 in Newcastle. Speirs + Major were directly approached by the client to act as lighting designers fAor the project. s the spaces are intended as a refuge for people undergoing a distressing time in their lives, the client brief emphasised the creation of a welcoming, domestic ambience as a clear contrast to clinical hospital environments. Additionally, a tight budget largely funded by charity donations meant the design had to be kept lean, with each and every luminaire positioned for maximum effect, and equipment carefully chosen. The centre is arranged around an accessible, partly enclosed courtyard. There are two wings of the Centre - one for counselling rooms and a large living room space, the other leads to the all- important kettle and kitchen table. A central library incorporates stairs up to a mezzanine level, enclosed by an angled roof covered in solar panels. To achieve the desired feel, as well as the necessary light levels and efficiency, the design of the lighting employs variation in light intensity as well as flexibility in control. Local lighting control provides visitors with the opportunity to adjust the lighting to suit their preferences, just like they would in their own homes. As the architect was keen for the lighting to feel properly integrated into the building, the design was developed to follow both the structural grid and the palette of materials.