Taxonomy: Exterior Lighting

Rottweil, Germany

The ” illuminated” landmark of Rottweil.
The new ThyssenKrupp test tower in Rottweil, with its spiral membrane facade screwing up against the sky, has become Rottweil’s new aesthetic landmark in a very short time. The lighting concept was a result of a series of investigations and light testing to ensure that the sculptural character of the convex-concave membrane facade designed by Jahn architects is also optimally visible at night. The consideration of environmental and nature conservation issues played a major role in the design. Requirements such as switching off the lighting at night and when visibility is less than one hundred metres were taken into account, as well as the limitation of luminance on the façade and the use of high-performance LED spotlights with a low spill light component.
The lighting concept supports the idea of the tower as a lighthouse visible from afar in the innovation forge for elevator technology at thyssenkrupp. A total of 44 RGB power spotlights were used to illuminate the tower. These are arranged in the form of two circles at the base of the tower. 24 spotlights, equipped with “wide-optics”, form the inner circle which illuminates the lower part of the tower. Another 20 spotlights in “medium” optics illuminate the upper part of the tower facade. The selected spotlights and optics ensure that the tower is illuminated as efficiently as possible.

Potsdam, Germany

For the temporary presentation of the weather vane of the Garrison Church in Potsdam, reconstructed true to the original, the architectural office Müller-Stüler und Höll developed a showcase made of galvanized steel girders with façade surfaces made of transparent stainless steel mesh. The observer can thus view the almost nine metre high gilded weather vane from close up and capture the high level of blacksmith’s art and the impressive dimensions of the former church building.
The aim of the lighting was to create a spatial effect in the showcase, in which the weather vane can come to the fore in a glare-free, high-contrast and brilliant way. For this purpose, the flag is evenly illuminated from below by linear LED lights. In addition, the individual elements of the vane are accentuated from above with a combination of narrow-beam and medium-beam spotlights.

Dresden, Germany

The secluded, quiet inner courtyard situation of the Zwinger with low ambient brightness in the evening hours requires a cautious approach to the planning of the exterior lighting. In regards to the high conservation value of the entire complex, an inconspicuous integration of the path and facade lighting in the Zwinger courtyard is to be realized.The unifying design idea is the duality between basic lighting as a two-dimensional brightening of the facade surfaces and the accent and path lighting with the existing candelabras. The aim is to give the building ensemble, even in darkness, an appearance appropriate to its cultural and historical significance. For reasons of monument protection, the façade illumination with gobo projectors is exclusively from the positions of the already existing candelabras and their pedestals in the middle of the Zwinger Courtyard. Specially developed candelabra inserts with energy-efficient LED luminaires will be installed in the housings of the existing lanterns to meet the requirements for path lighting.

Pinneberg, Germany

In the course of the redesign of the railway station area, the first measure was the renewal of the bus station and the station forecourt. In this context, the entire exterior lighting system was redesigned. For the illumination of the canopy in the waiting areas of the bus station, backlit luminous ceilings were chosen The light colour of the LED backlighting is dynamically adapted to the colour of daylight. The waiting area is bathed in warm light in the evening hours to make the lighting atmosphere as pleasant as possible for the waiting passengers. Energy-efficient LED luminaires are used to illuminate the bus station runways and the station forecourt. Street luminaires with precise optics ensure an even distribution of light.

Las Vegas, USA

Set in a mélange of color, light, and a whole lot of kitsch called Las Vegas, the Veer Towers required a lighting concept that redefines simplicity. The geometrically simple yet visually dynamic form of these towers brings a sense of architectural equilibrium to its backdrop. The luminous marks enhance this equilibrium and establish the solemnity of its architectural form. On a broader context of sustainable lighting, this simplistic lighting embraces the opportunity to enhance the well-being and overall experience of users within the towers and outside; and contributes to the urban night-scenography of this Sin City.

Lüdenscheid, Germany

The symbolism of light plays a central role in all cultures and religions, including the Christian tradition. The lighting of a candle is a symbol and ritual in the church room. Through the light of the candle a spiritual connection to the transcendent, the beyond or the infinite is established.
For the Christuskirche the light of the candle is used as a tradition. It refers to the deep relationship of man with this medium. In the Christian contemplation of the divine, Jesus Christ is embodied by the Easter candle.
The design idea for the illumination of the Christuskirche is the application of the special characteristics of candlelight. The gradient of the light colour of a candle flame is projected onto the facade of the Christuskirche. In this way, the church appears in the evening and night hours in a progression of light colours and luminance that extends from the base of the church to the roof of the church tower. The lower parts of the facade appear in a bright light with a cool white light colour. In the central area of the façade, this changes to a neutral white light, while the luminance of the façade steadily decreases. In the upper area of the church tower, the light colour changes into an amber light. The illumination culminates in slightly pulsating points of light which are projected by gobo projectors analogous to candlelight on the dark, unlit roof of the church tower. Originally, LED screens were planned for this, which showed the abstract image of a flickering candle. However, this suggestion was rejected by the monument preservation authorities in the course of planning.
For the perception of the church in the night image of the town of Lüdenscheid, the characteristic of the candlelight should be visible as a progression of light colours and luminance on the facade. At a distance, the church protrudes from the city’s sea of houses as a hexagonal pyramid of discreet points of light.
The light of the candle as a progression of light colours or colour temperatures projected onto the façade of Christuskirche represents a re-coding of the architectural lighting. It is not the accentuation of individual structural elements of the façade that is in the foreground but rather the symbiosis of the symbolism of candlelight light as an expression of the significance of the building with the architecture itself.

Lüdenscheid, Germany

The gate house from 1898 is a one-storey building with a two-storey middle risalit. The prominent urban location and its historical developmental importance makes it a defining feature of the cityscape. 4 masts illuminate the building’s facades with LED lights to perceive and enhance the building’s cubature at night from the street space of Mathildenstraße and the cemetery behind it. The approx. 4.5m high masts with dimmable LED luminaires are located at the vanishing points of the corners of the building and are positioned in a very diligent and conscious manner to avoid all possible disturbances like glare to the tenants on the first floor. Reminiscent of the former gatehouse with Tor Risalit, the inner surface of the entire central risalit façade is illuminated with narrow-beam linear wall surface-mounted luminaires from the base of the façade. To accentuate the building as a focal point at Mathildenstraße, the gable facades of the side wings are also illuminated with linear LED luminaires from the cornices of the gables.

For the illumination of the cemetery path the tradition of the so-called grave lights was adopted. The grave light consists of a candle which is often placed on the grave in special lanterns with glass panes for decoration and as protection against wind and rain. This light has different meanings. On one hand it illuminates “the way” for the deceased, on the other, the light is expressed as a bridge between the living and the dead. Grave lights are placed all year round, but very often on All Saints’ Day and on the Sunday of the dead. The candlelight creates an intimate yet a lively lighting atmosphere. To illuminate the cemetery path, the characteristic light colour gradient within a candle flame is transferred to a programmable LED panel. The LED screens are programmed as a dynamic colour gradient of a candle light and integrated into flat bars made of a bronze alloy. Installed as bollard lights along the central cemetery path, they immerse the path in a dignified and intimate lighting atmosphere that compliments the lighting mood of the grave lights. The luminous flux of the path lighting should ensure a sufficient average illuminance of 2 lux on the cemetery path. Due to the subtle colours and the dynamics of the candle flame, the path lighting blends well with the special lighting mood of the cemetery, despite the higher luminous flux compared to candlelight.

Berlin, Germany

In view of the high conservation value of the entire complex, the primary objective is to achieve unobtrusive integration of the lighting by means of small luminaire sizes and the selection of optimum luminaire positions. The lighting in the garden is equipped with appropriate protection against glare. The developed draft presents a lighting concept that includes the creative lighting of the ensemble and the safety-compatible lighting of all relevant areas and optimally coordinates them. By coordinating the lighting with the brightness of the surroundings, but also the individual lighting elements in relation to each other, a balanced appearance is created.  In addition to the exterior lighting, the lighting in the central plenary hall of the Bundesrat is also being renewed.

Pforzheim, Germany

The ‘Sparkasse Pforzheim-Calw’ building complex situated in the heart of the city of Pforzheim housing offices, shops, and a museum along with the “Jewellery World” showboats a scintillating lighting concept.  The exterior lighting refers to a theme distinctive of the cityscape of Pforzheim: The Water. The glittering light reflected on water or the sheen of a jewel is displayed on the tower’s façade – pageantry of 13,000 exclusively white LEDs which play with the idea of the sun’s rays reflecting on the water surface. The concept begets a delicate and surreal articulation to the three rivers shaping the city of Pforzheim.