The Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi/UAE

Text: Joachim Ritter, Jean Nouvel

If there is one dome in the world you have to have seen as a lighting aesthete, up to now this has most likely been the Pantheon in Rome. The huge hall is 43 metres high and 43 metres in diameter. The most striking element in the entire building is the nine-metre oculus. Domes are a significant feature in Arabian architecture. And the new Louvre Museum designed by Jean Nouvel in Abu Dhabi underscores this. Nouvel’s dome does not have just the one oculus, however, but comprises a modern interpretation that is fascinating, inspiring and boundlessly creative.

The new public library in Stuttgart/D

Text: Sandra Lindner

In 2010, the German Word of the Year was “Wutbürger”, meaning Outraged Citizen. Why did they opt for this particularword? It was a word that cropped up in the news a lot thatyear, especially in reports about the angry citizens of  Stuttgart, who took to the streets for months on end to protest against the politicians’ decision to build a new, but extremely expensive, main railway station in the city centre. It was not so much about the quality of the project, but rather about the fact that the citizens appeared to have very little, if any, influence on political processes. Besides the railway station project, the comprehensive city planning project known as Stuttgart 21 also includes the new public library. The new library’s image consequently also suffered in the wake of the discussions and hold-ups. Wrongly so, since the building is designed as a place in which to chill and to promote intellectual debate.

The Mansueto Library in Chicago/USA

Text: Alison Ritter, Sandra Lindner

It is a known fact that people in enclosed spaces need natural light and a view outside. That also applies to library users. On the other hand, daylight and books are not a natural match, given that the UV content in light fades ink and colours, turning paper yellow, or even brown with time. But what would a library be without people in it, let alone without books? For the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library in Chicago a team of architects, engineers and lighting designers  developed an unconventional solution, which is as practical and pleasant for the users of the university library as it is for the media stored there.

Sandton City Protea Court in Johannesburg/RSA

Text: Anthony Tischhauser

Sandton is a wealthy district in the northern part of the City of Johannesburg and home to the South African Stock Exchange since the late 1990s. The latter is not number one on the city’s sightseeing list but rather Sandton City shopping centre, which is one of the largest in the whole of the country.

Beyond neon and marquee lighting

Text: Anusha Muthusubramanian

Those were the days – when movie theaters were adorned with glittering lights running along the marquee, façade and interiors, creating dynamic patterns to attract clientele. Neon lights in flamboyant colors, brightly sparkling, heavily ornamented decorative pendants, wall paneling and finishes using jazzy materials – all adding to the romantic art deco ambience.

Passion for lighting

Text: Victor Palacio

Any time two or more lighting designers come together they immediately
share a very deep emotion: PASSION. Passion is the ‘glue’ that holds together architects, engineers, designers, artists, technicians, theater professionals, urban planners, conceptualists and many other people engaged in the same activity: LIGHTING. Lighting is frequently described as a mix of art and science. It is thus understood that a good lighting designer will develop creative solutions based on solid technical methodology. Additionally, lighting creates benefits to people and quality lighting can reduce the impact of energy use on the environment. Nevertheless, a definition of lighting design still remains to be formulated in such a way that colleagues are in agreement with it and all those who work with lighting designers fully understand it. The definition to date is generally related to the process pursued by designers as well as to their abilities, skills and the final outcomes of their work.

Moment Factory in Montreal/CDN

Text: Joachim Ritter, Moment Factory

For over 20 years Lyon’s Fête des Lumières event and the efforts undertaken by the French city to coordinate the use of electric lighting in their urban planning was regarded as trend-setting or even exemplary. Indeed, many designers see Lyon as the place where the lighting masterplan first saw light of day (or night). Right now urban lighting is witnessing what might be described as revolutionary rumblings. Digital light has opened gateways to new worlds. The gateways are big and the worlds three-dimensional and interactive.

Abu Dhabi 2030/UAE

Text: Lara El Hashem

Many people have heard of Abu Dhabi, but there are few who have taken the time to understand what this city is all about. For a long time it was cast in the shadow of Dubai, but when the Burj Dubai almost did not reach its peak during the economic crisis, it was Abu Dhabi – or to be exact Sheik Chalifa bin Zayid Al Nahyan from Abu Dhabi – who finally managed to get it built. The towering structure is now referred to as Burj Chalifa. At the same time the sheik also managed to weave his own concepts into the project. These focus primarily on sustainability. But what is it that is so fascinating about Abu Dhabi? Is it really a good example and a model for cities of the future? Or will it end up sharing the same fate as other concepts that go down as being too utopian. And last but not least: what is the basis of its approach to urban development? Is it design, energy saving or perhaps the successful combination of both?

The lighting masterplan for the Old City of Jerusalem/IL

Text: Roger Narboni

From very early times, the walled city of Jerusalem was built and developed according to the availability of water. Its long, world famous history can still be read and understood in the hand-crafted sculpted landscape that surrounds it. The complexity of the constellation of the holy city, the land it is built on and the topography of the terrain is what gives the Old City of Jerusalem its special character and charm. Retracing the form and silhouette of the city through lighting was a huge challenge, which is why the team of lighting designers from Concepto headed by Roger Narboni gladly embarked on the great endeavour.

The urban stage

Text: Lara El Hashem

As part of its continuous initiative to develop Beirut’s city centre, Solidere, a Lebanese private company for the development and reconstruction of Beirut Central District, launched Lighting Beirut Architecture in June 2011. This is the first project to involve the illumination of a large urban area using permanent image projections. The team working on the project comprised Frenchbased design studio Light Cibles, image projection and multimedia design specialists DIAP France, and Lampo Middle East.

New paradigms for urban spaces and their users

Text: Eduardo Gonçalves

The recognition that urban space is complex and consists of many typologies means that a research study on the topic needs to be well defined. The research will focus on urban centres, and specifically on pedestrian spaces with or without
slow-moving traffic.

The role of lighting masterplans

 Text: Dennis Köhler, Raphael Sieber

When we talk about coordinated lighting in the public realm we now know what we are talking about and why we need it. Or do we? Some refer to such initiatives as ‘lighting master plans’ or ‘a masterplan for the lighting’, a ‘public lighting scheme’, ‘an overall lighting concept’, a ‘lighting plan’, ‘an urban lighting
scheme’ or ‘lighting guidelines’. What is the correct term? Perhaps this terminology is overrated at least inasmuch as the terms listed above do not allow any conclusions to be made as to the contents of such a plan. Let us take a closer look.

Designers who have chosen to work with light

Even Speirs + Major, one of the most well known lighting design firms in the world, need to continue to develop their practice. Their firm conviction to delivering quality remains a constant in the development of their work and their team. In the last two years everything has been reviewed and challenged. Joachim and Alison Ritter talked to Mark Major and Keith Bradshaw and learnt about their interesting approach to projects and their new understanding of the role and responsibilities of the lighting designer.

Galleria Centercity in Cheonan/ROK

Text: Joachim Ritter

Shopping malls fulfil a very necessary social function: they offer people places to meet, gather, eat and drink, shop and window shop – to see and be seen. Korea is no exception.
A mall is not merely a commercial space; architects designing shopping malls have the opportunity to build upon and expand the visitor’s social and cultural experience. The modern-day architect’s interpretation of utility goes beyond efficiency and profitability. When UNStudio was commissioned to design Galleria Centercity in Cheonan they sought to generate a stimulating experience, in which the user, not the merchandise, is the central theme.

Novamed Polyclinic in Zagreb/CRO

Text: Dean Skira, Sandra Lindner, Deborah Burnett

Healthcare projects are a great challenge for lighting designers. Nowadays many medical institutions are being built to make the interior spaces look as non-institutional as possible. In addition to its practical functions, such as increasing security, providing visual comfort and enhancing people´s activities, lighting also has another important task:
creating positive emotions! You might go as far as to say that we would like to see more people in hospitals with a smile on their faces – as a sign they are coping with their physical condition or diagnosed illnesses.

A pharmacy in Athens/GR

Text: Petros Dermatas

In the foreword to the Greek edition of his book “Modern Architecture”, Kenneth Frampton suggested that no other capital in the world enjoys such a wide acceptance of modern architecture as Athens. In effect, Athens is stocked with an endless repetition of fairly indifferent apartment houses, the majority of which do not exceed six floors.
This is mainly due to a law which restricts buildings from blocking the view towards the Parthenon, giving an overall human scale to the city's architectural scheme. The Placebo pharmacy in Glyfada, a fashionable, upmarket suburb of Athens, stands out like a pleasant surprise in the otherwise rather dull modern-day Athenian cityscape.

Kings Avenue Overpass in Canberra/AUS

Text: Emrah Baki Ulas

In October 2011 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh touched down in Canberra for a ten-day visit to Australia. The plan was to welcome Australia’s monarch to the national capital by lighting the new Kings Avenue overpass, which leads directly from the airport to the city centre, in red, white and blue. Whether the lighting designers had the queen in mind when they opted for LED lighting is debatable, but the solution is definitely unique and makes for a practical and highly functional solution for the brand new traffic hub.

Gestalt theory

Text: Anusha Muthusubramanian

In the active process of visual perception the eye and brain scan for visual stimuli that relate to the biological need for visual order and meaning in the environment. Part of the human visual perception system involves a dynamic self organizational tendency to maintain a sense of equilibrium when the eye is confronted with visual overload.

Drawing in architectural lighting design

Text: Anastasia Skipetari, Steffen Nijhuis

Drawing is an important tool for lighting designers. Not only as a means of visual communication but also to aid visual thinking. As a process and product, drawing is a constituent part of the overall lighting design process, from concept to realisation. The emphasis is usually placed on drawing as a presentation medium, a means to communicate ideas, either elaborating on technical aspects of the design or revealing the envisaged visual impression.

PLDC 2011 in Madrid

Text: Joachim Ritter

It is not an easy task defining an overall motto that “says it all” about an event two years before it even takes place. Which makes it all the more reassuring to know that the slogan for PLDC 2011 in Madrid hit the nail on its proverbial head. The international lighting design industry was really ready to ‘vamos’ and aim for new horizons …

Alingsås 2011

Text: Sandra Lindner

Alingsås is a quiet nest 50 kilometres north-east of Gothenburg. For five weeks every autumn streams of international visitors flock to the little Swedish town from all over the world, teams of international students clad in uniform weatherproof jackets are seen all over town, climbing trees, clambering up ladders on house fronts…That can only mean one thing:
the Lights in Alingsås workshop is underway!

Hyllie Square in Malmö/S

Text: Joachim Ritter

To non-Swedes the word Hyllie sounds like it could be an item of furniture from the local Ikea store.
Then again, any Swedish word sounds like something from the popular furniture store catalogue.
Hyllie is in fact a new urban district that has been developed in Malmö, expanding the Swedish coastal town in the direction of Copenhagen.
And since light quality is key to the exterior spaces in and around both Malmö and Copenhagen, the lighting for the new square in Hyllie could not get away with a conventional solution. It had to be something special.
And it is.

Footbridge over the River Aare in Windisch/CH

Text: Sandra Lindner, Joachim Ritter

Strict budget, sustainability, high utility value and Swiss clockwork precision: the lighting forthe Mülimatt footbridge over the Aare in the Swiss town of Windisch addresses all those aspects – and the LED lighting solution plays a substantial role in hitting target on all of them.
LEDs made it possible to generate some extraordinarily artful and original lighting effects.
Minimal energy consumption and as little spill light as possible demonstrate respect for the natural environment and were a key argument when developing the concept, but that is nothing new…

Light design – The Dark Art

Text: Chris Lowe, PLDA, Philip Rafael, PLDA

An understanding of darkness is essential for truly inspirational light design.
So, why is good use of darkness within architectural light design so rare?
Is darkness absent from the light designer’s palette?

Lighting design is an art

Text: Howard Brandston

I assume most of us reading this are educated, a member of a profession, have a university degree, which assumes we have certain tools – we can read, we can write, we can do some math, we can speak, we can communicate – we’ve learned the practices, codes and standards of our profession.
This is the bare minimum of what you should know. But so what? Beware of education – lest what you have received is training.
And beware articles which sometimes are mere advertising propaganda which may cause you to become brainwashed.

The aesthetic of lighting atmospheres

Text: Marco Ludwig

We are seeing increasingly more light used as a design element in the public realm.
Our towns and cities are becoming arenas for spectactularly lit architectural structures and spaces – buildings, bridges, squares, and even entire streetscapes.
One cannot fail to notice that the application of electric light in the hours after dark now goes far beyond the conventional task of providing orientation and a feeling of safety and security.

Urban environments under electric light

Text: Dennis Köhler, Raphael Sieber

We are observing more and more that designed lighting schemes are neglecting to address many aspects of the quality of a given urban environment.
Socio-spatial relations and therefore also the time-spent perspective issues are seldom addressed in lighting design schemes to date.
It is noticeable that designed lighting schemes not only mean an increase in the illumination of specific buildings or structures, but that the overall lit image of the town seldom appears to be criteriadriven, that is to say in line with how different groups of city dwellers and users use the various urban spaces during
the time when the electric lighting system is in operation.

Lorenzo Lotto exhibition in Rome/I

Text: Joachim Ritter

Lorenzo Lotto is one of those artists who, despite achieving masterpieces of genius, remained poor and unappreciated for the duration of their lives.
He was a painter who, as a rule, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Only long after they have died do such artists become truly appreciated and receive the attention and glory they merit, and thus gain their deserved place in art history books. Yet at times history plays fair after all.
Lorenzo Lotto’s exhibition in the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, which ran from 2. March until 12. June, 2011, was presented for the first time through a completely new lighting philosophy.
From the point of view of both technology and content this concept is destined to transform our notion of the way the works of the great painters of the Renaissance should be illuminated.

Alila resort in Uluwatu, Bali/RI

Text: Joachim Ritter

The villa-style resort in Uluwatu, southern Bali looks out over the ocean from the top of a steep bluff.
The lighting concept was inspired by the theme the “Force of Nature” and addresses five key elements: wind, moonlight, fire, water, and trees to create a novel lit environment to enhance the resort’s physically and mentally soothing ambience.
The important idea was to integrate natural elements into the buildings.
Natural lighting conditions make for a unique spectacle at just about any time of day.

Roca Forum in Barcelona/E

Text: Joachim Ritter

In the so-called civilised world in the 21st century we take running water inside buildings for granted. Indeed, bathrooms have developed considerably over the decades and today often encompass an all-round experience of wellbeing.
The Spanish company Roca is a specialist in this field. With over 20,000 staff worldwide and a sales network throughout 135 countries, its flagship building and exhibition centre needed to be more than simply prestigious.
It needed to make a statement – in water – and with the aid of light.

New church in Dietenhofen/D

Text: Joachim Ritter

Any attempt to design a modern church building using glass and based on original Gothic churches and cathedrals is doomed to fail, you might think. Revisiting the architecture of the past to gain inspiration for a new structure is likely to end up looking like an anachronism or cheap copy.
Stained glass should never look cheap, let alone soberly technical or drained of spiritual charm.
And yet the combination of daylight and glass is hard to beat if the designer is looking to create a lively, inspiring space.

Hongodai Christ Church school in Yokohama/J

Text: Alison Ritter

When the architects and engineers designing the Hongodai Christ Church School and Nursery in Yokohama, Japan embarked on the project, daylight was to be the key feature of the learn-and-play environment.
In addition, they were also required to design and build a structure that would withstand earthquakes – and just a few months after completion they were put to test.

Quo vadis lighting design(er)?

Text: Joachim Ritter

It is not easy to imagine what conditions independent lighting designers were working under 20 years ago.
There were no special university courses and the young people embarking on a course of studies right now had only just been born back then and can hardly describe what this means for the lighting industry today.
There was no independent magazine dedicated to investigating and publishing information based on design and human biology and giving any real thought to the atmosphere in architectural spaces, where light – as we now know
– plays a decisive role.

Lights in Goa/IND

Text: Joachim Ritter

Economically speaking India is what is generally referred to as an emerging market. What does that mean? In India it definitely means radical changes in a country whose potential liesin surface area and key markets. The development of new markets is a process that has been going on fordecades.
In the decades that lie ahead India is reckoning on developing lighting design as a culture.With the first practical lighting workshops in 2010 and 2011 IIID and PLDA have taken it upon themselves to start the process.

Villa Knodel in Bergisch- Gladbach/D

Text: Prof. Susanne Brenninkmeijer

The Knodel residence, a private villa in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany is a fine example of how lighting can be designed to create differentiated spatial experiences and cosy atmospheres without using conventional thermal radiators.
This is a project that does not simply substitute incandescent lamps for LEDs or compact fluorescent lamps, but applies low-voltage halogen lamps and a BUS system.

Shop lighting application study

Good lighting fills the tills

Role models

Luisa via Roma fashion store in Florence/I

Cha Cha tea shop in Taipei/TWA

Kastner & Öhler in Graz/A

OMG shoe shop in Linz/A