Lighting for Architecture
/ From 8 to 13 March, the Frankfurt trade fair plays host to Light + Building, the international fair for lighting systems and building services technology. Here is a preview of some of the new ideas and innovations from the sector
TODAY’S LIFESTYLES ARE BECOMING EVER MORE FLEXIBLE and that is affecting the way we interact with the places in which we live. One consequence of this phenomenon is the appearance of lighting systems that are mobile, connected, sustainable and configurable to suit requirements. In technical lighting in particular, the digitisation of products is improving performance and making systems more functional. Light itself is evolving, becoming an architectural feature in its own right: an actual part of the room, which in turn is becoming more versatile. Track-mounted and modular systems facilitate the creation of new compositions, and make possible hybrid areas of light, in which tighter, more linear light sources alternate with pinpoint or diffused lighting. Unusual materials, including salvaged ones, are being explored for their aesthetic and functional value and we are seeing more and more systems that reproduce daylight remarkably well. ○
This winner of the Red Dot Award 2019 provides pleasant interior lighting and acoustic quality, making it particularly suitable for reception rooms and workplaces. The curvaceous, sound-absorbing suspended structure contains a rectangular diffuser whose light can be adjusted to suit the context. www.linealight.com
A compact, flexible magnetic system. Two fixed modules give rise to a whole range of light points comprising a series of multiple adjustable elements. The new electrical coupling system connects two tracks installed on orthogonal planes, creating a system that can be expanded to any length between the wall and the ceiling. www.targetti.com
(for comfort, security and energy efficiency, for example). Using the View Pro app, the installer can provide assistance to deal with any maintenance requirement, remotely and in real time. The IP Multigateway, based on resident intelligence, ensures that system works even where there is no internet connection. www.vimar.com
Spotlights and wallwashers with Parscan lenses were chosen to illuminate the rooms in the new The Twist art gallery, designed by BIG and set in the middle of the Kistefos sculpture park in the town of Jevnaker, Norway. Their simple design ensures that they blend discreetly and flexibly into the interior spaces. www.erco.com
A versatile indoor lighting system. The combination of curved and straight segments means that any number of different configurations can be created. Five suspension elements can be positioned along the track to enhance the product and add some extra functional features. www.flos.com
Segments of light that become incorporated into the room as architectural features, connecting the wall and ceiling surfaces. Technology, poetry and industrial design come together in what is actually quite a simple product. The sticks can be turned on their own axis, giving the utmost freedom in positioning the beams of light. www.vibia.com
Lines of light in varying lengths, flexible, completely fireproof and adaptable to any kind of surface. A specific device was created by the Marche-based brand for AG Licht, in charge of the lighting scheme in 29 stations of Doha metro. A product that highlights the architectural structure by UN Studio and produces a visually striking luminous effect. www.iguzzini.com
A collection of position-adjustable lamps in table, floor and suspension versions. The laser-cut aluminium structure, bent at several points, connects the LED light source and the semi-transparent glass diffuser, enabling the two elements to interact with each other, producing filtered, reflected light effects. www.axolight.it