We are very happy to publish another student project this time by Michael Dooney – a former student of Wismar University / Germany. During his studies he designed a luminaire called Nostalgia, which won Dia Design Award 2009.

Here’s some more from Michael:

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The brief for this student project was to design a luminaire using modular elements to create a complete light fitting. The idea being that similar luminaires could be built from the same materials, in a different arrangement, producing an alternative final appearance.

I was inspired to use the incandescent bulb as a decorative element in the design of this luminaire, since this quality has been overlooked when considering the phasing out and eventual banning of this light source. The final appearance of the luminaire is a result of the form of the lamp and how the individual ‘modules’ fit together.

Nostalgia, meaning a ‘bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past’ I feel is a suitable name. It reflects much of the attention both within and outside the lighting community towards a light source which, although we have known for over 125 years, may soon be no more.

This luminaire was nominated for a DIA Design award in 2009. It will be included in the DIA touring exhibition of Germany and has been selected for the permanent collection at the Hochschule Wismar in Germany.

Peak Tower stands at the top of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong/China. In 2006 AWA Lighting Designers designed lighting that aims to attract visitors after the 1997 renovation of the tower.

Here is more information by AWA Lighting Designers:

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AWA developed a lighting design that traces the path of the arriving visitor through the expanse of the building.

The visitor is greeted by multicolored washes of light generated by LED “color-blasters” at the tram arrival station.

Upon arrival in the main atrium, guests look up to view a massive field of 2×2’ convex panels, each illuminated by an individual LED lighting strip.

Computerized controls are programed to display sweeps of color, pixilated fields of color blocks, even messages, in a dynamic, eye-catching spectacle.

Architectural Record quoted Abhay Wadhwa comparing the effect to that of, “ascending through an effervescent sea of champagne.” (Architectural Record, February 2007, p.161)

LOCATION: Hong Kong China SAR
CLIENT: Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotel Group
ARCHITECT: Ronald Lu and Partners Hong Kong
YEAR: 2006
PHOTOGRAPHY: Marcel Lam

Three days of lectures and discussions involving a highly recognized group of international speakers and a motivated global audience, interested in taking a step further on the knowledge related to the topic of Natural Light – Daylight and artificial light for mankind.

Light Symposium 2010 will take place in Stockholm, Sweden in October 2010.

Organized by the Lighting Laboratory of the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in partnership with Hochschule Wismar University of Technology Business and Design, organizer of Light Symposium 2008.

The first Light Symposium took place in 2008 at the University of Technology, Business and Design in Wismar, Germany. The event entitled “The Future of Light and Lighting” had as main objective the interdisciplinary gathering of professions involved with light, and offered a great opportunity to forge links to international researchers and scientists that support the creation and development of existing networks and value added chains.

In 2010, the Lighting Laboratory of The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) is in charge of the second Light Symposium, this time entitled “Natural Light – Daylight and artificial lighting for mankind”.

The objective of the event is to offer 16 sessions by internationally recognized high quality speakers, including 3 keynotes, to provide a wide and deep perspective on the topic and increase the level of the discussions and general knowledge in the field of Architectural Lighting Design.

Each symposium day will be ended with a closing panel, in which moderators and a guest will perform the role of panelists to summarize the main ideas presented by speakers during the sessions. Speakers will be invited and audience encouraged to contribute to the panels, which aim to allow the establishment of connections between different lectures, lead to discussion on deep levels and sum-up the most relevant contributions for the development of the topic.

The main aim of the Symposium is to take the discussion related to Natural Light a step further and not simply function as an arena for the delivery of ideas by speakers to a passive audience!

The profile of the event is non-profit and the ambition is to provide a low attendance fee, to allow the participation of a motivated and inspiring audience. The expectation is to welcome 250 people, including active professionals, researchers, educators, students and representatives of the industry, organizations and agencies related to the field of lighting.

Focus Lighting recently completed lighting design for Cooper Square Hotel. They collaborated with Antonio Citterio (Interior Architect) and Carlos Zapata (Exterior Architect) to create ‘a fashionable and elegant retreat for stylish professionals and world travelers’ (above photo by Photo by JR Krauza)

Photo by Geordy Pearson

A much more extensive description of the project by Focus Lighting follows:

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From the exterior, Carlos Zapata’s design is striking and chic. The twisting structure feels kinetic in form but the building is well rooted and takes command of the downtown skyline. The unique curtain wall drapes the building in a shining glass skin. Selective use of clear and fritted glass panels create a sculptural effect, allowing colored blocks of light from within each room to create & re-create the look of the façade each night, without flooding excess light onto neighboring properties.

Photo by Geordy Pearson

Just inside the massive wooden doors at the street level, softly glowing sheer curtains surround the expansive lobby. Two walls of dark wood punctuated by crisp slots of light stand in textural contrast to the gradient of incandescent light. Warm white LED light strips are mounted vertically within each cavity to create glowing slots of light, while Par30 lamps 12” on center graze the sheers, creating a balance of light and form.

Photo by JR Krauza

A dark glass wall with a green fritted pattern of foliage wraps through the space, helping to bring the beauty of the natural environment inside. Each panel is accented by a recessed MR16 accents, casting a subtle glow on the intricate patterns. All of the millwork at the hotel was created by B&B Italia, with the Italian fabricators transported to New York to build out each space in situ. Every component throughout the spaces is designed by Citterio – whether it is a unique element created for Cooper Square Hotel, or a piece chosen from his previous lines of furniture, each one is part of a cohesive, high-end look.

Photo by JR Krauza

Adjacent to the lobby is the library space and the restaurant entry. Oversized floor lamps with fabric shades and dimmed MR16 accents with flush trims placed over seating areas make the library lounge area comfortable for passing guests while keeping the architectural lighting out of sight. Low-light levels throughout the space create an air of subtlety and class, with the added bonus of cost effectiveness. The restaurant space is intimate as well, using warm red and brown tones to create a rich environment. A patio space off to the side of the restaurant has a well-manicured garden and outdoor seating, helping to bring the surrounding environment within the space. A vast maroon leather wall frames the dining room and is grazed by Par lamps to add a sense of height to the space.

Photo by JR Krauza

From the outdoor seating area you can travel up a grand staircase grazed by low bollards and lined with candles, where there is another outdoor seating area attached to the 2nd floor bar. The white couches and low wooden furniture, combined with the open air patio overlooking the garden, make the space feel like one has been transported to the Mediterranean seaside. Just inside another set of fully operable glass partitions, the small second floor bar resides. Silver accents, and a wall of zinc shelving with continuous LED uplights create an interesting focal point behind the bar, and walls of glass windows help the lighting create sparkle in the otherwise warm and dim space. Beyond the bar down a narrow corridor, a private seating area surrounded by three walls of glass overlooks the candlelit garden and excitement on Bowery.

Photo by JR Krauza

Downstairs, the first floor bar (across from the lobby) creates yet another relaxing environment. This time the mood is slightly darker and more mysterious. Marble liquor risers, a glittering black tile ceiling and a striking Flos chandelier in the front window create a distinct look. Flickering candlelight, coupled with recessed fixtures in the tile ceiling and floor lamps help to section off seating areas and make the space alluring.

Cooper Square Hotel is already redefining the term boutique hotel in NYC. With classic Italian modernism at work, and subtle lighting techniques that bring out the architecture and create a sophisticated ambiance, Cooper Square fits right in with the revitalized crowd of downtown Manhattan.

ÅF – Hansen & Henneberg sent us images of a project they did for Danish Road Directorate. It is a lighting design for a Motorway Bridge with the aim of increasing the security of the vehicular traffic below.

A thorough description of the project by ÅFHH follows:

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Introduction

The two motorway bridges in question had been identified as an accident black spot. In re-cent years a number of accidents had occurred in the immediate vicinity of both bridges in-cluding a collision with the railway bridge. The bridge’s V-shaped columns create a highly unfortunate and narrow gate-like impression as the columns are positioned very close to the road and lean forward over it. Accidents could have been avoided if the narrowing road sec-tion under the bridge had been more clearly and suitably illuminated.

An assessment was made of the bridge’s illumination – the conclusion being that a standard road lighting would not provide illumination sufficient to overcome the complexities pre-sented by the bridge’s construction. It was further decided that, in order to prevent illumina-tion of the railway bridge creating too great a contrast and thus further problems for the road bridge to the west, it would be necessary to come up with a solution which incorporated the illumination of both bridges.

In keeping with the principles of the Danish Road Directorate’s handbook ”Smukke Veje” (Beautiful Roads) which proscribes that roads should, where possible, sit comfortably with the surrounding landscape, the illumination creates a recognisable and integrated visual im-pression with an unusually aesthetic quality.

The lighting concept

The area’s illumination has thus a dual purpose: creating a clearly marked and safe section of roadway and providing original aesthetically pleasing lighting and a unique experience for the motorist.

The concept addresses both these requirements at the same time as transforming the ”black holes” under the bridges into visible and inviting portals, ensuring safe passage and creating a local landmark in an area which, at night, is normally unremarkable.

The concept builds on the notion of the ”soft” surrounding countryside and transfers these features of the landscape to the ”hard” motorway environment, creating a human version of a fauna tunnel / passage.

The lighting for the bridges is designed to link them, using clearly-identifiable common fea-tures, and to highlight unique features so as to create a night-time impression of each bridge particular to the bridge in question.

The lighting design

Two different types of lighting are used. The first type uses chiaroscuro (the interplay be-tween light and shadow) to create contours on edge beams facing oncoming traffic. The sec-ond type, ”atmospheric lighting”, illuminates the bridges’ supporting columns with coloured light.

The bridges’ edge beams are illuminated using gobo projectors (projectors, that give of light in a particular pattern) equipped with standard metal halide lamps. The gobo projectors are attached to poles at the edge of the motorway and in the central reservation. Coloured at-mospheric light illuminates the column’s fronts and in between the columns using linear LED luminaires.

The lights used are thus suitable for inclusion in the Danish Road Directorate’s standard maintenance program.

The railway bridge

Gobo lighting

The gobo lighting consists of fir tree patterns characteristic of the trees in the surrounding area. Chiaroscuro is thus used to create a unified impression that refers both to the surround-ing plant life and landscape.

At the same time the gobo lighting frames the bridge’s form clearly, creating an innovative visual impression with clear associations to a wood in which pine needles are framed against the dark night sky.

The light is shielded and ”cut”, so that it only falls on the bridge’s edge beams. In this way unwanted spill light is avoided providing clarity for both motorists and train drivers.

Atmospheric illumination

Atmospheric light is created by using greenish light to illuminate the areas in-between the V-formed bridge columns. This green colour creates an inviting atmosphere and provides a further connection to the surrounding countryside – as well as strengthening the impression of a passage.

When passing under the bridge the play of light and shadow between the columns recalls the patterns of light and shadow between tree trunks.

The road bridge

Gobo lighting

The gobo lighting along the bridge’s edge beams features projections of the characteristic graphical contours of foliage.

This form of illumination also serves to precisely frame the bridge’s shape. The light’s organic forms and the fine interrelation between light and shadow, create an impression of passing under trees’ foliage or traversing a path bordered by trellis-work.

Atmospheric illumination

The bridge’s columns are illuminated with green light which helps create a link between the two bridges. The colour was selected in order to create a friendly and inviting atmosphere, and the vertical illumination of the columns underscores the visual impression of trunks sup-porting a leafy canopy.

Implementation

Gobo projectors are mounted on poles in the central reservation and hard shoulder. The beams of light they generate are angled in a similar way to that used to illuminate road signs.

Linear LED luminaires are affixed to the bridge ceiling near the columns which they illumi-nate.

The project was nominated for / won several awards listed below:

• DEN DANSKE LYSPRIS 2009 (Danish Lighting Award) – 2. Place
• IALD 2010 ”AWARD OF EXCELLENCE”
• LUMIVILLE 2010 – 1. Place ”ESCAPE PUBLIC”

ALD İstanbul is an international conference which is focused on architectural lighting design. The first event will take place on 25th of October 2010 and will be organized biannually. The purpose of ALD İstanbul is to bring all players of the architectural lighting industry together and to create a theoretical and practical thinking platform within Turkey and near geography such as Russia, Ex-soviet Unions, Middle East, South Europe etc…

The event will host internationally successful architects and lighting designers. Through the presentations and discussions participants will find the opportunity to see recently completed projects related to light and it’s applications.

ALD Istanbul is not only about presentations, but also offers a wide range of content. Cultural background is important for lighting design and for its perception. As same colours can have different meaning in different cultures, the use of the light changes too. In this context, the Pecha Kucha night dealing with the issue `Lighting Design and Culture`, will provide lighting designers coming from different continents and cultures the platform to share their experiences on 20 slides x 20 seconds basis.

This interactive night accompanied by a cocktail will be followed by an outdoor lighting installation based on the concept `Play Ground` designed by Turkish lighting designers.

From DIAV designers based in Santiago / Chile we received images of a project they did for the Chilean National Library – Hall of the Founders.

It was designed after the design team led by A & F Architects won a competition organised by National Museums & Archives Organization for the renovation of the hall which involved acoustic renovation as well.

More info by DIAV follows:

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The interior architectural project proposes a glaze volume elevated over the level of the room, which represent the contemporary intervention with a straight cube shape, which will contrast and highlight the classical architecture around.

This volume separates the display and reading sites and it is structured of a silk-screened glass with texts containing the names of the main Chilean writers, which are illuminated with cold white light, emitted by LED hiding on top perimeter.

The classical architecture of the room has a warm white lighting, which highlights the most important elements of its architecture, such as arches and pillars and dome.

Hence, it is proposed to contrast the heritage character of the Lounge (warm light) with the contemporary nature intervention (cold light).

As the second project in our Student section we are publising a colorful luminaire designed by Nevena Kovačević called Byzantia.

It is mounted in a corner and uses fluorescent light sources.

More info by Nevena follows:

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Corners are the places which are least thought of for a luminaire.

Byzantia is a gradiant mosaic which has decorative value by day and by night by turning on two fluorescent tubes behind it becomes a luminaire.

Byzantia takes very little space going from the floor to the ceiling shielding and hiding the corner.

It enhances the space and reveals a very intense joyful color gradient on the two walls. It was made and exhibitied in Wismar (Germany) in 2009.

Pfarré lighting design sent us images of their project Klimahaus 8° Ost in Bremerhaven/Germany, which focuses on the facade lighting of the building.

More info from Pfarré lighting desig below:

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The Klimahaus 8° Ost offers a mix of science and education, and belongs to the “Havenwelten”, a large revitalization project in the former port area of the city of Bremerhaven. It invites visitors to undertake a journey through selected climate zones along the degree 8° East, enhancing the awareness for the global climate, it’s features, impacts and problems involved.

Pfarré lighting design realized several lighting projects in the Old/New Harbor project within the Havenwelten, so in 2005, they have been invited to present a proposal for the “night time identity” of the Klimahaus, together with 3 other lighting design teams. Pfarré’s idea was the only one that faded out the inner volumes of the building. The brief was to create an appropiate night time outdoor image.

The design is focussed to the building skin; the idea of a mesh of meridian lines (the 8°East theme), and the use of LED points at the meridians crossings was key part of our presentation. Furthermore, the designers did not only want to create an unrelated media facade, they wanted to bring something from the inside, from the conceptual content, to the outside, to the public, visible at the facade.

Use the free building form as “canvas”, the pattern of the glass sheets to create a mesh of single lighting points that can be set into motion by being adressed individually via DMX. Only white light, no color spectacle that tires after a while.

Not too much light, but follow the entire volume with it’s total length and height. Underline the shape of the project. Fade out all interior structures, stay on the surface. Being part of this ambitious project, that wants to educate a wider public about our climate conditions and the climate change, pld wanted to use a minimum of energy. With 0,33 W/sqm the designers achieved a complete picture, spanning over 7700 sqm of building skin.

They stick to the budget, which was defined in the preliminary design phase. pfarré lighting design is convinced about the achievement of a long lasting lighting design. It is not trendy, and it is calm, inviting, almost discreet, but still spectacular.

As a “side” effect, apart from the night time image, the building, this gigantic blob, illuminates it’s surrounding with a total power of 2600 watts only!Sequences are switched on only for special occasions. This site is not Times Square, and in order to keep the moving lights that play with elements of nature, the oceans, rain, wind and stars in the sky, exclusive, pld agreed with the client to switch it on for special events only.

The regular, all-night image is static, but it glows like a huge sponge or sea urchin, carefully embedded in the Havenwelten project, not far from the North Sea.

PROJECT DATA:
PROJECT: Klimahaus 8° Ost, Bremerhaven
CLIENT: Bremerhavener Entwicklungsgesellschaft
Alter/Neuer Hafen mbH & Co KG, Bremerhaven
DATE OF COMPLETION: June 2009
SIZE: 7,700 square metres (Facade)
ARCHITECTS: Klumpp Architekten, Bremen, agn Niederberghaus & Partner GmbH, Ibbenbüren; Wolf Bartuszat
LIGHTING DESIGN Facade / Exterior: Pfarré Lighting Design, Munich; Gerd Pfarré, Katrin Rohr, Katja Möbs (www.lightingdesign.de)
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS: Latz & Partner, Kranzberg/London; Tilman Latz, Oliver Keil
LED CUSTOM PRODUCTS: feno GmbH, Munich
LEADING IDEA KLIMAHAUS: Petri + Thiemann GmbH, Bremen
ENERGY CONCEPT: Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH, Stuttgart
PHOTOGRAPHY: Markus Tollhopf, Hamburg

On the Kinetica Fair Jason Bruges Studio presented the Reflex Portraits installation.

Reflex Portraits is a series of 6 unique animated digital portraits by Jason Bruges Studio exploring reactions. The series is a development of the studio’s Mirror, Mirror piece, currently being exhibited at the V&A Museum.

The pieces explore digital narcissism and the work is as much about how people respond to the piece as the canvases themselves.