Press Contact

Melanie Stegemann
Head of Brand Marketing Zumtobel

Tel.: +49 170 3385 222
[email protected]

Press information 2019

  • 12/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Masters at work: Zumtobel develops special lighting solution for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

    The imposing building of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has stood on the banks of the Nerviòn since 1997. Its spectacular architecture, and the modern and contemporary artworks it holds, have transformed the city in Spain’s Basque region into an art lover’s paradise. To keep the priceless  artworks from the museum collection , including artists like  Mark Rothko, Yves Klein, Cy Twombly, Anselm Kiefer, Robert Rauschenberg and Eduardo Chillida, as well as the 2020 temporary exposition of Olafur Eliasson, El Anatsui, and Wassily Kandinsky, in their original condition and to display them appropriately, the lighting system has now been refurbished. Zumtobel has developed a special luminaire that meets all the museum’s requirements. The first exhibition after the renovation, which can still be seen until January 19, 2020, is a retrospective with 130 artworks by the German photographer Thomas Struth.
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    There are no less than three Guggenheim museums around the world, placed in in New York, Venice and Bilbao. The museum was designed by architect Frank O. Gehry in the deconstructivist style, a modern, avant-garde style of architecture characterised by slanting walls, intersecting building elements and sloping or rising ceilings. The impressive 9000 m² exhibition space holds works of art in the form of paintings, sculptures, installations and video art – predominantly masterpieces of the 20th century.

    Following the refurbishment of the lighting system, the exhibition spaces have been given a new lease of life, thanks to an LED lighting solution from Zumtobel, who replaced the previous lighting system and achieved new levels of efficiency and light quality. To meet the museum’s technical and financial requirements, Zumtobel developed a custom-made product that can be used as a wallwasher, spotlight, very narrow spotlight and projector.
    The most important lighting task in the museum is the perfect highlighting of the essence or shape of an exhibit. The excellent performance of Zumtobel’s wallwasher spotlight in particular impressed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao: in the exhibition areas, with ceilings up to 12 metres high, the luminaire offers the perfect mix of finely accented and large-scale lighting, together with uniform light distribution throughout combined with outstanding colour rendering (Ra > 96). Additional spotlights illuminate the artworks sensitively and precisely. UV- and IR-free light protects the exhibits, three colour temperatures, 3000 K, 3500 K and 4000 K, showcase the artworks perfectly. In addition, a special filter can be used to create diffuse light and oval light distribution.

    With the help of rotationally symmetrical Fresnel lens optics available as 6° and 8° versions, the VERY NARROW SPOT spotlight offers particularly precise, sharply contoured lighting. The PROJECTOR spotlight also comes with a special zoom for focussing the light, with four different lenses (14º, 25º, 35º and 50º) to help achieve this. Zumtobel’s custom-made lighting solution helps to bring the exhibits to the fore – enhanced by perfect lighting and the museum architecture.

    Thanks to innovative LED technology, the special lighting solution also enables a significant reduction in energy consumption compared with the previous museum lighting, which was a requirement by the museum. Bluetooth makes maintaining the lighting solution particularly easy. Zumtobel has installed more than 1000 special luminaires at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 12/2019
    Company

    Zumtobel Group to open the industry’s largest Light Forum in less than three months

    The Zumtobel Group is creating the industry’s largest Light Forum at its headquarters in Dornbirn, Austria, on an area of 4,000 square metres, and is thus investing in its home location as well as the success of the lighting company in the long-term. In less than three months, the company’s refurbished factory hall in Höchsterstraße 8 will be opened with a big international customer event. This event will also mark the start of the year of the 70th anniversary of the Zumtobel brand.
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    The space concept, developed in cooperation with the Innsbruck studio of the renowned Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, provides space for a unique world of light that customers can experience with all senses, and where the strong brands of the Zumtobel Group will present their comprehensive lighting expertise.

    “Our new Light Forum stands for a long-term investment in the future of the Zumtobel Group at our headquarter. We aim to offer our customers a unique space of light, where we can permanently show the full range of our brands and our potential as an international lighting group,” says Zumtobel Group CEO Alfred Felder. “Therefore, we will deliberately focus on the opening as well as the 70-year anniversary of Zumtobel in 2020 and have decided not to exhibit at the light+building trade fair in the coming year. Instead, we will invite our customers to our own new premises on this special occasion.”

    Dialogue with customers: Light Forum as a new meeting point
    The new Light Forum will be a platform and meeting point for customers and employees of the Zumtobel Group, and will promote exchange and networking with its different areas. The design of the old factory hall as a co-creation space allows a dynamic stimulation of the open space, which was developed in the style of the company culture of the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta. The integration of customer-focused areas such as sales and marketing into the new Light Forum creates a new way of working together, that will create a benefit for our customers. The company itself will thus be able to further expand its dialogue with customers and to strengthen the network with its partners.

    Anniversary year 2020: The story of Zumtobel began 70 ago
    The coming year marks not only the opening of the Zumtobel Group’s new Light Forum, but also the 70-year anniversary of Zumtobel. Walter Zumtobel founded ‘Elektrogeräte und Kunstharzpresswerk W. Zumtobel KG’ in 1950. The company started as a family business 70 years ago producing ballasts for the then new fluorescent lighting technology. Today, the company is an internationally operating lighting group with roughly 5,900 employees and is among the leading suppliers of innovative lighting solutions, lighting components and related services in Europe.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 11/2019
    Products

    New Zumtobel luminaires: minimalist with maximum impact

    Simple design and award-winning accent lighting: Zumtobel is synonymous with creative approaches to technically innovative lighting solutions. The Austrian lighting specialist is continuing its success story with LIGHT FIELDS III and ECOOS II, two new luminaires for sophisticated office lighting. A further two luminaires, EPURIA and MICROS II, will also be coming to Zumtobel’s portfolio in autumn.
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    The office world is changing. Many employers have realised the positive effect a pleasant working environment can have on wellbeing, which in turn increases staff productivity. Workplace architecture – including acoustics, ergonomic equipment and above all lighting – plays a key role in this. Zumtobel’s dynamic lighting solutions place human needs centre stage and use flexible, adaptive lighting to help staff feel good at work – giving them the motivation and focus to concentrate on their job. With the new LIGHT FIELDS III and ECOOS II luminaires, Zumtobel is extending its office range to include two all-rounders that make light work of the most demanding tasks. Their subtle elegance and uncompromising light quality is impressive too.


    LIGHT FIELDS III – a master of complex visual tasks
    Rooms and workplaces can be illuminated perfectly with the third generation of the LIGHT FIELDS. The frameless body allows the luminaire to be integrated fully into the surrounding architecture for a limitlessly flexible room design. “The full-format light surface is a characteristic feature of the new generation of luminaires. Unconstrained, frameless: simply pure light,” says Stefan Ambrozus from Studio Ambrozus, describing the new design. This makes them ideally suited to seamless arrangement in rows, perfectly illuminating large, imposing rooms where the desired effect is to create a space flooded with light. A special feature of the luminaire is the MPO+ lens: the light is refracted, directed and beautifully distributed in a controlled manner. This achieves the effect of precise lighting, which is particularly suitable for office work. The LIGHT FIELDS carefully balance diffuse and directional light. As a pendant luminaire, the adjustable direct and indirect light component allows free positioning within the room, ensuring perfect workplace lighting with no glare or shadowing. Equipped with tunableWhite technology, LIGHT FIELDS III also takes into account the effect of light on biology, contributing to a sense of wellbeing and improved concentration. 

    ECOOS II – newly defined 360⁰ light
    The ECOOS is in a class of its own. The linear, minimalist luminaire provides unique 360⁰ lighting for large office spaces, making it the perfect choice for use in educational institutions or in healthcare too. Thanks to the Curved Waveguide technology that captures light and guides it 180⁰ around the luminaire, 360⁰ radiation is guaranteed even with the new slim version. This gives the luminaire a floating feel and ensures light is distributed evenly throughout the room. The light from the ECOOS II has the effect of being almost infinite and three-dimensional. The homogeneous lighting creates a much more relaxed atmosphere in the room. Individual luminaires can easily be connected to form a continuous row that appears to be enclosed, creating the impression of a single luminous object. What’s more, the unique MPO+ technology makes ECOOS II an economical direct/indirect luminaire. The high CRI of 90 and the perfect anti-glare rating (UGR<19) improve the lighting effect in the entire room. Thanks to tunableWhite, the whiteness of the lighting can be adjusted individually depending on the daylight available and the requirements in question. This invites people to communicate, to concentrate on their work, or to be inspired.

    Also coming to the Zumtobel portfolio in autumn: MICROS II and EPURIA
    MICROS II is a small, powerful downlight, perfect for general lighting tasks in imposing additional areas in retail, the hotel and hospitality industry or hospitals. A flexible reflector with multiple beam angles and excellent anti-glare properties, as well as several different colour options, leaves plenty of room for creative light planning. In addition, the MICROS II is an ideal like-for-like alternative to outdated halogen lamps – installation is very easy, and flexible too.

    Zumtobel is launching another new office luminaire in the form of the EPURIA. The elegant free-standing luminaire creates atmospheric lighting in the room, with a high indirect lighting share and up to 11 000 lumens. The prismatic direct light also ensures outstanding anti-glare, uniform workplace lighting. Using a configuration tool, the luminaire can be tailored to the particular needs of an office: as a single- or dual-head luminaire, with two different luminous fluxes, a range of colour options and optional dimming, as well as daylight and presence detection. Developed for demanding tasks and a wide range of requirements, EPURIA is the perfect addition to any office environment.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 11/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Art in its own right - Zumtobel illuminates the Scala Theatre Museum in Milan

    Zumtobel has used an innovative lighting solution to create a new setting for the historical art treasures housed by the “Museo Teatrale alla Scala” theatre museum in Milan. The exhibition rooms are lit with SUPERSYSTEM II mini LED spotlights, accentuating this collection of valuable theatrical objects with a sophisticated lighting composition, thereby emphasising the extraordinary status of this museum. The theatre museum reveals the history of the famous Scala Milano musical theatre and features countless artefacts from the history of opera and, last but not least, a major collection of Verdi’s works. Zumtobel’s lighting solution uses accent lighting to create captivating light effects, while also ensuring optimal illumination of the exhibits.
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    „Our SUPERSYSTEM II product series is used in some of the world’s most famous art galleries. SUPERSYSTEM II meets the highest requirements in terms of providing aesthetic and functional lighting through the combination of its modular design and precise miniaturisation of luminaires and accessories,” explains Daniel Lechner, Director Brand Management at Zumtobel. The new Zumtobel lighting solution celebrated its premiere at the opening of the “Nei Palchi della Scala. Storie milanesi” exhibition, curated by Pier Luigi Pizzi, which can be seen from 8 November 2019 to 30 May 2020.

    With SUPERSYSTEM II, Zumtobel provides a lighting tool that is up to the task, no matter what the scale. Its precise miniaturisation and intricate dimensions offer even more flexibility and maximise the options available for light planning. The product group is based on a carefully designed modular system offering end-to-end solutions, that are used for a range of demanding lighting tasks, primarily in museums, galleries and shops, but also in hotels, restaurants and conference rooms. With efficient lighting technology, excellent light quality and made-to-measure lighting inserts for general and accent lighting and wallwashing, SUPERSYSTEM II offers a wide variety of end-to-end lighting solutions for use across several rooms or buildings.

    The Scala Theatre Museum is one of the most famous museums in Milan and was founded in 1913. With its large collection of treasured props, historic costumes, busts, paintings and documents from the last three centuries, the museum shines a light on the exciting history of Milan’s Scala and the history of opera. Its exhibits include historical musical instruments such as Giuseppe Verdi’s piano, as well as the piano played by Franz Liszt in a concert at La Scala.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 10/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Zumtobel Group illuminates Borussia Dortmund's home venue: Germany’s largest football stadium with new LED floodlight solution ready for international tournaments

    The Zumtobel Group recently equipped the legendary stadium of Borussia Dortmund (BVB), the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, with a highly modern LED floodlight system. The new lighting solution from the Group's Thorn brand was recently operated for the first time and fulfils all of the requirements for the German Bundesliga as well as for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2024, for which the stadium in Dortmund has been selected as one of 10 venues. Borussia Dortmund benefited from the Zumtobel Group’s turnkey service – an all-inclusive package ranging from lighting planning and project management during implementation to commissioning.
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    „We installed a turnkey lighting solution that meets the highest international standards. The new LED floodlights with modern lighting technology offer the best lighting quality. Their brilliant colour reproduction as well as their flicker-free operation are especially needed for super-slow-motion HDTV-broadcast”, says Stefan Thiel, Business Development Manager, Zumtobel Group.

    With a capacity of more than 81,000 spectators, the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK is the largest football stadium in Germany. It is an iconic venue, lauded by fans around the world for its famous Yellow Wall and exhilarating atmosphere.

    The Zumtobel Group’s brand Thorn has a long and successful track record as a trusted global supplier of professional as well as recreational sports lighting solutions, both for indoor and outdoor facilities. It has extensive experience in designing tailored illumination systems for special sports applications, including field of play lighting, using solutions that optimally combine aesthetics, optical performance, energy consumption, durability and easy maintenance.

    The new floodlight system is the latest in a series of lighting projects that the lighting group has already realised for the BVB: The Zumtobel brand already implemented the LED shop concept for the new "BVB FanWorld" in 2014, as well as other fan shops of the club. In 2017, Zumtobel redesigned the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK’s lighting in the main grandstand and the VIP entrance area west as well as the training centre Dortmund-Brackel. As of now, the Zumtobel Group has completely redesigned the entire interior lighting experience of the stadium, also adding the LED floodlight system.

    The replacement of the stadium’s previous floodlight installation called for a lighting design that, first and foremost, achieved the illuminance level requirements stipulated by the German Bundesliga and the UEFA. The new solution includes 252 Thorn ALTIS LED floodlights that ensure flicker-free operation to support HDTV-broadcasting and super-slow-motion with their superior colour rendering. The lighting concept as a whole guarantees excellent illumination and uniformity of light.

    "With the new highly modern floodlight, we have sustainably invested in the basic technical equipment of the stadium. For the implementation, we chose our long-standing partner, the Zumtobel Group," says Dr. Christian Hockenjos, Borussia Dortmund's Director Organisation, and continues: "With 2100 lux in the direction of the cameras, we now clearly exceed the DFL minimum requirements and already meet the UEFA requirements for the EURO 2024.”

    Implementing the Zumtobel Group’s turnkey service offer, the club could be sure that all project tasks would be carried out efficiently, cost-effectively and on time – by one contractor. Beginning with an initial analysis of the existing installation and facility, Zumtobel Group experts developed a tailored design concept. Following approval, they drew up a detailed lighting concept and full implementation plan, coordinated project deliverables with partners throughout the installation and made sure that the new lighting system was fully operational in accordance with the requirements.

    All 252 floodlights are connected to a common IP-based control system via the DMX interface of their control gear. The basis for immediate controllability and dynamic lighting effects in real time is a fibre optic network specially installed for this purpose.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 09/2019
    Lighting Solution

    A building within a building – The new Bauhaus Museum Dessau brings together the future and the modern age under a hovering black box

    "A black box in a glass shell" – this is how architect Roberto González describes the new Bauhaus Museum Dessau, designed by his firm addenda architects. It takes statics to the edge of magic: Inside, a concrete cube hovers, apparently weightlessly. The black structure is suspended five metres above the visitors' heads, held aloft by just two staircases. Lighting solutions by Zumtobel present the exhibits in the proper light, while the lighting for the area beneath them can be flexibly adapted to the respective use of the space.
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    To this day, three former areas of activity are pilgrimage sites for designers and architects searching for traces of the Bauhaus: Founded in Weimar in 1919, the Bauhaus art school moved to Dessau in 1925, spending its most successful years there before moving to Berlin in 1932 for another year. In all three cities, a new museum building is being constructed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the art school's foundation. The Berlin Bauhaus Archive will have a new exhibition building by 2022, Weimar has had a new Bauhaus Museum since the beginning of the year – and on 8th September 2019, a new home for the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation's collection was opened in the form of the Bauhaus Museum Dessau.

    The new building, at the most important historical site, is an independent structure, which is deliberately not affiliated with the former school building distinguished as a UNESCO world heritage site. The museum is located in Dessau city park, right in the heart of the city. It was designed by a young architecture firm from Barcelona, whose concept was selected from over 831 submissions. Addenda architects (Roberto González, Anne Hinz, Cecilia Rodríguez, Arnau Sastre and José Zabala), is a collaborative studio with an interdisciplinary background. The team comprises designers who originally worked in a range of creative and cultural areas and are therefore particularly able to adapt to the specific context. After all, the Bauhaus too was a place where a community of designers from across the globe could come together. And it represented interdisciplinary work and a craft tradition.

    The young architects did not want to quote history. Yet the museum does features all sorts of Bauhaus. "But not in the sense of Mies van der Rohe's ‘Less is more’. For us, ‘More with less’ was more important," explained Roberto González. "In our building, it's all about proportion, positioning and space. In the right combination, it is clear that you can achieve an outstanding result with just a few resources." The new building is to offer 1,500 square metres of exhibition space for the collection – without daylight and with optimal climatic conditions for the exhibits. The concept also required an area for flexible use, which can be used as a space for events or changing exhibitions.

    The two functions could barely have been separated more consistently than they were by addenda architects. Five metres above the floor, a 100-metre-long and 18-metre-wide room structure is suspended as a black box. Inside, it accommodates the second largest Bauhaus collection in the world, comprising around 49,000 objects. Of these, over 1,000 exhibits are featured in the "Versuchsstätte Bauhaus. The collection" exhibition. Light is fed into the black box with general light planning by Lichtvision Design, exhibition lighting by ENVUE HOMBURG LICHT and solutions by Zumtobel. Zumtobel, as the exclusive lighting partner, supplies all lighting solutions and collaborated closely with the responsible architects, exhibition designers and lighting designers during the planning and implementation phases.

    The planners from Lichtvision Design placed particular emphasis on supporting the clarity and stringency of the architectural design. "The light planning creates a serial, industrial, flexible and linear base structure in the area of the ceiling," explained Carla Wilkins from Lichtvision Design. The TECTON light is a continuous-row lighting system, which, thanks to its flexible and wide-ranging components, can be adapted to any lighting task – including electrotechnical special solutions. It was possible to implement the general, emergency and exhibition lighting with just one system. On the ground floor, linear light inserts provide diffused and democratic light. In individual areas, single spotlights supplement the continuous row, creating accents and supporting orientation. "By minimising the stylistic element in the lighting technology, attention is shifted to the room itself, creating a platform for the varied use of the newly created Bauhaus space," said Carla Wilkins.

    The exhibition lighting for the scenography of the collected works, designed by chezweitz, was planned by ENVUE HOMBURG LICHT. Staged light, or rather directed light, plays a particularly important role here. The ARCOS spotlight system is specifically tailored to use in a museum context. It provides accented, precise and authentic staging of the exhibits and exhibition architecture. The innovative LED lighting, combined with customised reflectors and selected optics, generates a unique light quality for subtle presentation with translucent, white and coloured materials. With ARCOS, light in Dessau becomes a tool for the perfect staging of art and design. "The black box room recedes into the background and, because of its dark walls, seems almost non-existent – all scattered light is absorbed," explained Urs Schreiner from ENVUE HOMBURG LICHT.

    Beacon-Module were also integrated in anticipation. These small, stationary radio broadcasting stations take future applications of the museum into account, such as digital museum guides, mobile navigation through the exhibition or customised information systems about the exhibits. The parallel installation brings two technologies together in one property – even if the Internet of Things will only be incorporated in the museum at a later date. The adaptability of the installed light system is another important requirement. For, since there is no fixed use of the open community space beneath the exhibition cube, the lighting must also be dynamically adaptable – for presentation situations, workshops or temporary installations.

    The ground floor is a consistent contrast to the black box. Anyone who enters the open space on the ground level experiences a "magical moment," as Roberto González describes it. "Suddenly you're right in the middle. There are no more limitations. Everything appears open, transparent and fluid." And the important thing is: the openness works in both directions. Not only is the visitor behind the glass façade standing perceptibly right in the city centre, but the building itself also influences the urban context. On one side, it creates a connection to the green park and, on the other side, to the city centre. The architects from Barcelona would actually have liked to have left the space under the hovering box open, but: "We are in northern Europe, where there's a lot of rain and it can get very cold. That's why we constructed a kind of winter coat made of glass."

    The positioning in the centre of Dessau was a deliberate decision; the new building is intended to attract fans of the Bauhaus to the city. And the location in the city park was also deliberate. What the park loses in terms of area, is in part given back by the rooftop garden, which becomes a fifth façade, with the plants helping to optimise the building in terms of the climate. The result is maximum openness, flexibility and consistent functionality.

    The new Bauhaus museum was opened on Sunday, 8th September 2019 and was a highlight of the 100th anniversary of Bauhaus. For the first time, the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation's collection is fully represented – and the museum, as an independent, contemporary location, will supplement and connect the Bauhaus buildings in Dessau in equal measure.
    All details about the event are available here.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 09/2019
    Lighting Solution

    “Lights on”: Zumtobel Group illuminates Allianz Arena in vibrant FC Bayern red

    Just in time for the start of the European football top tier on 18 September 2019, the interior of the Allianz Arena in Munich shone brightly in an even more vibrant FC Bayern red. During the evening, the new effect lighting was officially turned on by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Chairman of the Executive Board of FC Bayern München AG, and Alfred Felder, CEO of the Zumtobel Group.
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    With its comprehensive lighting expertise, the Zumtobel Group redesigned the inner roof area of the Allianz Arena, one of the world’s most modern stadiums, with new lighting technology. The lighting group is implementing a complete lighting solution in several areas of the Allianz Arena. The first part, the inner roof area, has now been completed with the lights officially turned on for the occasion of the game against Belgrade.

    “The Zumtobel Group has realised a very sophisticated customised lighting solution during the first construction phase. We are proud to contribute decades of experience and expertise as a full-range supplier and are delighted to now see the Allianz Arena shine in vibrant FC Bayern red,” says Alfred Felder, CEO Zumtobel Group.

    During the first construction phase, the inner ring of the roof was seamlessly equipped with LED strips. The ring of the roof has an impressive circumference of 370 metres and is located at an installation height of approximately 50 metres above the lawn. In addition, the radially arranged joints in the roof area were fitted with LED lines. The LED strips, which can be programmed to shine in different colour schemes, create a new visual and emotional element in the interior of the stadium with their light display. Shining in vibrant FC Bayern red, the roof area with its new lighting technology merges in colour with the spectator stands of the Allianz Arena. In addition, the new effective lighting of the Zumtobel Group in the crater-like interior of the Allianz Arena blends in with the design language of the building and accentuates its architecture. The architectural masterpiece was designed by the renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron.

    The turnkey solution for the stadium includes the entire project management and project execution, which ranges from production, delivery and installation to the commissioning of the systems. With its all-in service, the Zumtobel Group provides one of the most comprehensive offerings in the entire lighting industry.

     “A great compliment to our partner the Zumtobel Group, who will add even more emotion to the Allianz Arena with its new effect lighting. The unique lighting design in the roof area will give the fans on the spectator stands a completely new stadium feeling,” says Andreas Jung, FC Bayern München AG Executive Board Member.

    “Thanks to the Zumtobel Group as our lighting partner, the interior of the arena will shine in an even brighter FC Bayern red. Every football fan should see that this is the home of FC Bayern München. The new lighting solution is based on state-of-the-art LED technology and guarantees the best lighting quality with maximum energy efficiency,” says Managing Director Jürgen Muth, Allianz Arena München Stadion GmbH.

    During the next phase, the lighting of the cascading stairways will be renewed. In doing so, the initial installation, which consists of lights with fluorescent lamps from the year 2005, will be replaced by a new lighting system with energy-efficient Zumtobel LED luminaires. In the last construction phase, scheduled for 2020, the “balloon lights” on the esplanade in the outside area of the stadium will be replaced.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 07/2019
    Lighting Solution

    The gateway to a world of art: Zumtobel provides the lighting for the new entrance building on Berlin’s Museum Island

    The James Simon Gallery is the new entrance building for Berlin’s Museum Island. From August 2019, it will serve as the point of entry for visitors from all over the world. But it wouldn’t be fair to reduce this streamlined, graceful building to a simply functional entity. In both architectural and practical terms, the building by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin connects the ensemble of museums on the Island. It offers the general public a wonderful area in which to stroll and linger. Zumtobel was lighting partner throughout the planning and construction phases, which lasted for many years, developing a lighting concept especially for the building.
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    It’s an effective gesture of welcome – the flight of wide steps leading to the James Simon Gallery is an architectural invitation to visit Berlin’s Museum Island and discover the great works of art it holds. The new visitor centre is named after entrepreneur and patron of the arts, James Simon (1851–1932). The Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (“National Museums in Berlin”) have him to thank for many valuable works, including the world-famous Nefertiti Bust and the Ishtar Gate.

    The James Simon Gallery creates a direct aboveground connection to the Pergamon Museum and connects it in turn via the Archaeological Promenade to the Neues Museum (“New Museum”), the Altes Museum (“Old Museum”) and the Bode Museum. The flight of steps outside the gallery brings visitors to the building’s spacious foyer, where they can buy their tickets, enjoy the view from the terrace and relax in the café. The lower floors house space for temporary exhibitions, the auditorium, the museum shop and the cloakroom.

    Some areas of the James Simon Gallery will also be accessible outside of the opening times, increasing the number of public spaces on the Museum Island. The spacious architectural language creates a smooth transition between the interior and exterior. Elements such as skylights, colonnades and flights of steps combine to create a building “that celebrates the accessibility of the museums and the art works that they house – and encourages people to take their time as they move through it”, as Alexander Schwarz, partner at David Chipperfield Architects Berlin and the project’s design director, describes the concept. The architects paid homage to some of the other architects who have defined the Museum Island, including Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Friedrich August Stüler, and, at the same time, brought the building right into the twenty-first century, by using contemporary materials such as glass, concrete and natural stone, for example.

    One of the main aims of the lighting plan was to provide the open architectural structure, which gets plenty of daylight, with optimal artificial light. In addition, it meant bundling all the building services in a single channel, so they were invisible to visitors, in order to emphasise the building’s distinct structure. Zumtobel used this brief to develop the appropriate light and media channels, which run through the concrete ceiling of the whole building and integrate both loudspeakers and sprinkler systems. The indirect lighting enhances the natural daylight throughout the day, wherever needed, and also enables the visitor centre to be lit discreetly from the inside when it’s dark. 

    To make the room and exhibit lighting in the auditorium and exhibition areas as flexible as possible, Zumtobel selected luminaires including CIELUMA and ARCOS. The CIELUMA ceiling luminaires consist of square textile light modules, with the gentle progression of the light from the edge to the middle of the luminaire a particularly noteworthy feature. A colour temperature of 3800 K ensures pleasant, uniform basic lighting in the room. CIELUMA offers visitors another advantage, too – the acoustic fabric absorbs sound, reducing unwanted ambient noise in the room – so that they can enjoy the art, uninterrupted. The ARCOS LED spotlights’ role is to showcase the exhibits. The spotlights provide accented lighting for the exhibits, high colour rendering (Ra > 90) and excellent light quality. The UV- and IR-free light also protects the delicate artworks, while thanks to tunableWhite technology, the colour temperature can be adjusted to suit each individual exhibit. It’s a great example of colours and materials working together perfectly.

    Zumtobel developed another special luminaire for the second floor of the James Simon Gallery. The  CRAFT high-bay luminaire, whose light provides both broad and precise illumination, was mounted in a light cube of thin marble panels. The result: pleasant lighting and a real eye-catcher!

    When planning the lighting for the James Simon Gallery, Zumtobel had to overcome very particular challenges. The rate at which LED lighting technology develops is about as fast as the planning and construction phases for a museum building are slow. This meant constantly updating the lighting planning and adapting it flexibly. “When it comes to lighting in architectural structures, it’s crucial to test how it’s perceived in reality and then adapt the technology to it”, says architect Alexander Schwarz. “During this discussion process, and the process of trial and error in the actual building, Zumtobel was always open and very professional,” continues Schwarz, describing the collaboration with the Austrian luminaire manufacturer. The James Simon Gallery isn’t the only project on which Zumtobel and David Chipperfield Architects have collaborated: David Chipperfield developed the ARCOS museum spotlight for Zumtobel and designed the Zumtobel Group’s 2012/2013 annual report.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 07/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Networked lighting puts Berlin’s KEH hospital in good shape

    The LITECOM infinity lighting management system from Zumtobel is now enabling optimum control throughout a new section of the Protestant Queen Elisabeth Herzberge Hospital (Evangelisches Krankenhaus Königin Elisabeth Herzberge or, for short, KEH) in Berlin. This key addition has helped the lighting become a sophisticated luminous assistant for both patients and staff – and offers a professional way of regulating daily life in the busy hospital. The new building features a comprehensive Zumtobel lighting solution and therefore incorporates the perfect combination of luminaires and lighting controls. A healthy success, you could say.
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    A new day at KEH. The daily ward round has just finished. Doctors are heading to their next patient consultations. They enter “Haus 100” through a corridor that connects the existing hospital with the new section. This modern construction is home to the diabetes centre, a medical care facility, the neurology and diabetes wards and various consultation rooms. Elegant light lines of SLOTLIGHT infinity in the corridor areas guide hospital staff, patients and visitors through the new building in a clear and logical manner.

    The light is cleverly connected – thanks to LITECOM infinity, which centrally controls all the luminaires in the public areas. Integrated sensors help the lighting react to presence and reflect the dynamics of daylight. As a result, the lighting actively supports the natural human biorhythm and ensures maximum visual comfort, as the facility managers can use simple web applications to optimise the lighting, adjust basic settings and configure specific lighting scenarios. Take cleaning, for example. With just a push of a button, the corridors are fully illuminated. And then they can be thoroughly cleaned – quickly and effectively. Touch panels in the reception area allow intuitive individual operation, while hospital workers have the option to adjust illuminance levels and select desired lighting scenes using the Zumtobel lighting management system.

    In the meantime, the first patient is waiting in the examination room, where doctors and consultants can tailor the lighting to suit the particular situation and create the ideal lighting situation for the relevant tests and checks. The professional lighting in the treatment rooms supports good vision and helps staff enjoy optimal working conditions. For every situation. And for every patient. Luminaires from the LIGHT FIELDS family combine a minimalist design with glare-free light, which meets both the specific needs of the examination and treatment areas of the hospital and the visual requirements of the people who work there.

    A feeling of well-being facilitated by good lighting in the individual rooms of the hospital is particularly important for patients at the KEH. This subtle effect promotes recovery and helps ensure a pleasant stay. Indeed, the process starts from the moment people enter the hospital, where a luminaire with innovative design welcomes visitors and patients at the registration desk. This is the SEQUENCE pendant luminaire, which blends glare control and gentle light distribution to create a pleasant all-round ambience. Moving beyond the reception area, circular ONDARIA fittings deliver added safety by uniformly illuminating the various stairwells.

    The new building – the so-called “Haus 100” – has been planned and realised to perfectly suit the precise needs of medical staff and patients. It is a place of work, but it is also quite clearly a place of well-being. “The KEH hospital benefits from a complete solution with cutting-edge lighting controls. Everything fits together and everything is connected,” explained Claudia Siebert, the responsible sales representative at Zumtobel. “The lighting is professional, user-friendly and modern, while the installation also cuts costs in terms of operation, maintenance and energy.”

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 06/2019
    Company

    Zumtobel Group partners with technology innovator Casambi for wireless lighting control solutions

    The Zumtobel Group, one of Europe’s leading professional lighting groups, with its core brands Thorn, Tridonic and Zumtobel, has teamed up with Casambi, a multi-award winning pioneer in wireless lighting controls based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
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    “Our partnership with Casambi allows us to combine our outstanding luminaire design with state-of-the-art Bluetooth technology which simplifies installation, commissioning and operation of lighting systems and, thanks to its interoperability, leaves room for future developments and applications,” confirms Alfred Felder, Zumtobel Group CEO.

    Casambi’s CEO Timo Pakkala endorses the partnership by commenting: “With Casambi technology installed within the Thorn and Zumtobel luminaires and also supporting Tridonic drivers, lighting control has become more powerful, versatile and easier to use. Moreover, the introduction of these new connected lighting solutions from an industry titan such as Zumtobel Group goes a long way to demonstrate the continued rapid growth achieved by Casambi’s expanding ecosystem.”

    Casambi’s control technology platform, which automatically forms an intelligent wireless mesh connected network, enables luminaires and other lighting devices to be wirelessly controlled in a creative, cost effective, energy saving way.

    Customers who choose Casambi Ready luminaires developed by either Thorn or Zumtobel benefit from the easy-to-install solution because they no longer need to use separate lighting control modules. Both lighting brands’ luminaires are mounted with Casambi-Ready modules which are integrated directly into Tridonic drivers. Thanks to the high-end features of the technology the luminaires can be easily controlled separately or in multiple groups and dimmed up and down between 1 and 100 percent – all via Bluetooth. Additionally, it is also possible to quickly organise and manage professional lighting scenes and create sophisticated tuneable white applications.

    The luminaires will be of particular benefit to operators of offices, healthcare practices and shops looking for a quick and convenient way to modernise their lighting without any new cabling. They will then have a powerful, low-cost light management system that can be easily controlled via Bluetooth. For ultimate ease of use, individual users can control the lighting via the free the 4remote BT app developed by Tridonic or an optional wall mount user interface.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 04/2019
    Lighting Solution

    A temple for contemporary Filipino art: Zumtobel illuminates the Bellas Artes Outpost in Manila

    Founded in 2013 by art patron Jam Acuzar, the Bellas Artes Projects foundation has quickly become a major art and culture centre in the province of Bataan. In 2017 Acuzar opened the Bellas Artes Outpost non-profit exhibition space in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, to promote discourse between Filipino artists, the general public and the broader international contemporary art scene. Zumtobel has helped accentuate the modern and sometimes experimental exhibits with a flexible lighting solution that uniquely stages the works in line with the wishes of the artist.
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    It was early on in her career when Jam Acuzar first had the vision to create a place that makes art truly accessible to all. Her dream was to shift attention away from the collection or acquisition of art, focusing instead on artist residencies, exhibitions and education, aspiring to giving everyone the chance to experience art and culture. With the generosity of establishing Bellas Artes Outpost in Manila, she has now built an exhibition space in which artists can present their works and experiment with the impressions and reactions generated by their exhibits. Exhibits include works by critically acclaimed artist couple Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan,  Cian Dayrit, Bruce Conner and Paul Pfeiffer, among many others. The Aquilizans, whose work touches on issues of migration and belonging, often work with reclaimed materials that accentuate themes of journey and origin. Cian Dayrit also explores traces of the past and uses paintings, sculptures and installations to create a fascinating interplay between fact and fiction. Along with home-grown Filipino artists, famous names from the international art scene like Carlos Amorales and Pawel Althamer have also exhibited in the Bellas Artes Outpost.

    Founder Jam Acuzar together with Claude Mark Wilson of WE Design placed great emphasis on the flexibility of the lighting solution, with the key aim of helping artists make light an effective tool for exhibitions. Lighting expert and interior designer Claude Mark Wilson opted to use the multifunctional SUPERSYSTEM II lighting tool. The combination of a series of low-voltage tracks and a comprehensive range of easy-to-install modular LED lighting inserts covers all demanding lighting tasks and supports maximum adaptability and optimal individualisation. The slim tracks and purist luminaires, which remain very much in the background, impress with their subtle design, high-quality materialisation and outstanding brightness. A special feature of the SUPERSYSTEM II toolbox is the ability to achieve different visual effects, depending on the particular task. The miniature spotlights are ideal for pinpoint accent lighting, incorporating rotationally symmetrical distributions such as Superspot and Wide Flood or a precise oval light beam, while the wallwasher versions provide pleasant uniform illumination for vertical surfaces.

    The solution is controlled by the DIMLITE CIRCLE lighting controls unit from Zumtobel. With three scene buttons and two rocker switches for dimming, this innovative control panel looks after all the basic functions in the exhibition space and helps users avoid having to use multiple buttons and switches.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 04/2019
    Event

    Opening of new Zumtobel Group Light Centre in Bologna

    On the evening of 16 April 2019, the Austrian lighting company Zumtobel Group opened its redesigned Light Centre in Bologna covering an area of 450 square metres. Around 200 guests attended the official opening. The conceptual redesign of the Bologna Light Centre has created a customer platform which conveys the experience of light in its various applications and underlines the extensive lighting expertise of the Zumtobel Group and its brands.
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    “We are delighted to have created a platform for our customers with the new Light Centre Bologna, which shows everything from indoor to outdoor lighting solution. The final location inspires and creates an inviting space to discuss and design lighting solutions together with our customers. It is a place where light can be experienced and it is enormously important to us to be able to convey this experience of light to our customers,” says Karl Oberhollenzer, General Manager Zumtobel Group Italy.

    Opening framed by Francesco Iannone & Serena Tellini
    The evening event was framed solemnly by a keynote speech by the lighting designer Francesco Iannone & Serena Tellini, Consuline Architetti Associati from Milan, Italy. Francesco Iannone has been working with lighting design and industrial design applied to lighting for 30 years. In 1986, he founded the Consuline office in Milan, where he works with Serena Tellini.

    The fascination of light
    The Zumtobel Group showcases at the newly designed Bologna Light Centre its broad product portfolio and the expertise of the Zumtobel (Indoor) and Thorn (Outdoor) brands. Light for specific applications, professional lighting solutions and the related services.

    The idea of the Zumtobel Group Light Centres was raised more than 25 years ago based on the philosophy to establish a place where people can experience the best light for a particular application – this is also the philosophy that the new Light Centre in Bologna pursues. With the recent opened light centres in Vienna, Paris, Zürich and now Bologna the company wants to step in into a new area of customer dialogue and interaction. For March 2020, the next milestone in the company’s history is just around the corner, as the new Light Forum at the headquarters in Dornbirn will open up its doors.

    Milan Design Week: Presentation of new Zumtobel SUPERSYSTEM integral collection with EOOS designer Harald Gründl
    On the occasion of Milan’s Design Week, EOOS designer Harald Gründl from Vienna, Austria, presented the new Zumtobel SUPERSYSTEM integral collection in the prestigious setting of the Royal Room of the Central Station in Milano on the evening of 12 April 2019. The Zumtobel SUPERSYSTEM integral collection designed by EOOS provides light planners with a tool for outstanding lighting technology aiming at making the light source nearly invisible.

    Video:
    Zumtobel at Milan Design week 2019: https://youtu.be/oD82h44ulpo

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 04/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Lighting solution for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing

    Zumtobel Group becomes Team Supplier to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
    The Zumtobel Group provides the illumination for the impressive, state-of-the-art Milton Keynes headquarter of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing. Included within the headquarter is MK7, a vibrant new space in the factory that has been created to provide a unique, immersive and exciting environment. As part of the Team Supplier agreement between Zumtobel Group and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, the lighting group’s Zumtobel and acdc brands have provided the perfect ambience in which to showcase the racing cars and graphics in the versatile and dynamic MK7, whilst also creating the ideal illumination for other areas of the facility.
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    Zumtobel and acdc are contributing their extensive expertise and experience, in addition to creating an outstanding lighting solution. Both companies are working together to portray the brand image in the correct light, whilst saving energy and creating the best possible environment for staff and visitors alike. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and the Zumtobel Group brands are creating a winning combination with a shared vision of excellence, delivering solutions that are tailored to the success of their objectives.

    “We are delighted with this project and proud to be the lighting supplier of choice for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing,” says Matthew Boucher, Zumtobel Group Managing Director for UK & Ireland. “Our broad portfolio of products and scope of solutions gives our design teams the tools to come up with spectacular designs like this that tick all the boxes. Working together, the Zumtobel Group brands can deliver one of the most comprehensive offerings available in the lighting industry.”

    Terry Brice, Head of Infrastructure at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing commented, “Aston Martin Red Bull Racing are excited to have Zumtobel Group as a Team Supplier. We are using the Zumtobel Group’s expertise in lighting as we bring updates to workspaces across our Design, R&D, and Manufacturing site, and also in our flagship hospitality space, MK7. In MK7 we have leveraged the full spectrum of the Zumtobel Group’s lighting products and together have created a welcoming and inspiring space to showcase the history of the Team, for team guests to visit and for large events.”

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 04/2019
    Products

    Good things come in threes: Zumtobel enjoys a triple triumph at the Red Dot Award 2019

    A design award is always an honour. And the taste of success is even sweeter when it is served up several times – like at the Red Dot Award 2019, where three lighting solutions from Zumtobel’s current portfolio caught the eye of the jury. A revolutionary classic was honoured in the form of CLARIS evolution, while the LINETIK pendant luminaire claimed a prize for its blend of delicate elegance and intelligent lighting technology in the workplace. The TEELA functional light sculpture, which adds a unique elegance to any space, completed the winning trio.
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    The Red Dot Award has become a serial success story for Zumtobel. Having seen three luminaires awarded the coveted seal of quality in 2018, Zumtobel was this year once again able to enjoy a triple triumph by impressing an expert international jury that included designers and experts such as Dr Sascha Peters, Mårten Claesson and Saskia Diez. On a functional level, the three award-winning luminaires clearly have two things in common: innovative technology and efficient sustainability. However, when it comes to aesthetics, the three solutions take very different approaches to spatial lighting, ranging from an artistic and poetic angle driven by architects to an austere revolution in office lighting and a proven design classic.

    TEELA – Artistic lighting scenes
    Zumtobel has used the editions #02 to forge a link between sculptural spatial objects and functional lighting for the third time. The special TEELA link between sculptural spatial objects and functional lighting for the third time. The special TEELA luminaire is one of three pioneering solutions that make up the latest incarnation of the editions, a special collection of lighting visions created by renowned designers and architects. A flexible fabric shell stretches over the slender, flat body and the slightly protruding spots, which transform the surface into a lighting landscape. A dynamic lighting landscape. The material itself shifts in line with the orientation of the spotlights – and TEELA as a whole harnesses uniform backlighting to deliver atmospheric indirect illumination. From a distance, the almost invisibly installed pendant luminaire looks rather like a glowing, floating cloud. Carefully blending technological sophistication, acoustic effectiveness and an expressive character with emotional lighting effects, TEELA fulfils the overriding goal of the designers: to enable users to experience an affective approach to this exceptional light object. A team from the Delugan Meissl studio has developed this special lighting solution out of the general space, establishing TEELA as an object that enhances both quality of life and the atmosphere of any room in which it hangs.

    CLARIS – A classic in the future
    The CLARIS louvre luminaire has been an integral part of the Zumtobel portfolio for two decades. And now CLARIS evolution – the third generation – is writing a fresh chapter in this seemingly endless success story. The pendant luminaire for workstations with visual display units (VDUs) not only demonstrates its timeless design, but also once again sets new standards in terms of technical features. Zumtobel has very much taken a sensitive approach to this modern makeover. Installing state-of-the-art lighting technology made it possible to slim down the body, while at the same time carefully maintaining the overall proportions of the original design. With a height of just 26 millimetres, the LEDs have been successfully placed in recessed light chambers, making the slender housing appear as though it has been cast from a single mould. In addition to aesthetic minimalism, the tailor-made individualisation is consistently reflected in all aspects of the design. Four colour variants, three light-chamber options and a matt or gloss finish ensure plenty of choice. A total of 24 different choices, to be precise.

    LINETIK – A reduced form with functional versatility
    Revolutionary design and profound technical innovations have enabled LINETIK to turn conventional thinking about office lighting on its head. Designers Simon Fischer and Matt Free from F Mark Ltd devised this trailblazing Zumtobel luminaire – and in doing so, have almost managed to somehow decouple light from its actual materiality. It is very much the lighting effect that first catches the eye, as the reduced cross-section of just 24 millimetres helps the LED free-standing solution remain discreetly in the background. The core element of the lighting technology is a specially developed reflector. This scales LINETIK back to an absolute minimum in terms of form and delivers uniform functional illumination for the workplace. With low energy consumption, naturally. A delicate silhouette means that this aluminium fitting stands in the room like an accurately drawn L-line, appearing to almost float above the work surface with its cantilevered luminaire arm. The precisely balanced direct light output is tailored for use at single or double workstations, while indirect light is emitted atmospherically from an extrusion lens directed towards the ceiling.
     
    About the Red Dot Award
    Originally founded in the German city of Essen, the Red Dot Award has been recognising good design since 1955. A multi-disciplinary international jury is put together every year to honour outstanding design solutions. The “Red Dot” is a stamp of quality that is organised into three categories to thematically cover the core aspects of design: “Product Design”, “Brands & Communication” and “Design Concept”. The winning products are presented online and in an annual publication, as well as being shown in the three Red Dot Design museums at the Zollverein Colliery in Essen, in Singapore and in the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen. 

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 03/2019
    Company

    Zumtobel Group redesigns customer centre in Switzerland

    On the evening of 27 March 2019, the Zumtobel Group opened the redesigned Light Centre in Zurich covering an area of 740 square metres. Around 200 guests attended the official opening in Thurgauerstrasse 39. The conceptual redesign of the Zurich Light Centre has created a future-oriented customer platform which conveys the experience of light in its various applications and underlines the extensive lighting expertise of the Zumtobel Group and its brands.
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    „Wir freuen uns sehr, für unsere Kunden mit dem neuen Lichtzentrum Zürich eine zukunftsorientierte Plattform geschaffen zu haben, die von Licht bis hin zu IoT-Lösungen alles zeigt. Die finalen Räumlichkeiten begeistern und laden ein, gemeinsam mit unseren Kunden Lichtlösungen zu diskutieren und zu gestalten. Es ist ein Ort, an dem Licht erlebt werden kann und es ist uns enorm wichtig, dass wir unseren Kunden dieses Licht-Erlebnis vermitteln können“, so Marc-André Rusch, Geschäftsleitung Zumtobel Schweiz.

    Präsentation SUPERSYSTEM integral collection mit EOOS-Designer Harald Gründl
    Anlässlich der Eröffnung präsentierte EOOS-Designer Harald Gründl aus Wien, Österreich, die neue Zumtobel-Produkt-Kollektion SUPERSYSTEM integral collection mittels eigens dafür entworfenen Wandreliefs, die als Ausstellungsstücke im neuen Lichtzentrum verbleiben. Die von EOOS entworfene SUPERSYSTEM integral collection von Zumtobel gibt Lichtplanern ein Werkzeug für exzellente Lichttechnik an die Hand, darauf ausgerichtet, die Lichtquelle nahezu unsichtbar zu machen.

    Faszination Licht
    In den neuen Räumlichkeiten zeigt die Zumtobel Group das breite Produktportfolio und die Kompetenz der Marken Zumtobel (Indoor) sowie Thorn und Hess (Outdoor): Licht für spezifische Anwendungen, professionelle Lichtlösungen und die dazugehörigen Services. Die neue Art der Produktpräsentation in Kuben setzt besondere räumliche Akzente und gliedert sich nach Anwendungsbereichen. Eine völlig neue Möglichkeit in der Interaktion mit dem Kunden bietet der flexibel bespielbare Teil des Lichtzentrums, in dem kundenspezifische Lichtlösungen für Industrie und Büro variabel präsentiert werden können.

    Besonderes Glanzstück in der Ausstellung ist das Zumtobel Masterpiece des US-amerikanischen Stararchitekten Daniel Libeskind, das hinter der Glasfassade schon von außen sichtbar ist.

    Wie in allen Zumtobel Lichtzentren bilden der Licht-Erlebnisraum (Faszinosum) und die Brand-Wall ein eindrucksvolles Entree und lassen den Besucher gleich zu Beginn der Faszination des Lichts folgen. Im Licht-Erlebnisraum wird Licht als Werkstoff und reine Materie markenneutral gezeigt.

    Einladendes Raumkonzept
    Mit der Renovierung wurde der Inhalt des seit 1999 existenten Lichtzentrums – damals von Lichtkünstler James Turrell eröffnet – neu aufgesetzt. Grundidee des neuen Lichtzentrums in Zürich ist ein offener und in Teilen flexibel bespielbarer Raum, dessen unterschiedliche Themenbereiche die Nutzer dazu einladen, sich auszutauschen und zu vernetzen. Das neue Lichtzentrum ist für Kunden und Mitarbeiter eine lebendige und dynamische Begegnungszone – ein Ort der Inspiration, der zugleich Raum zur Präsentation der neuesten Produkt- und Systeminnovationen sowie smarter Lichtlösungen bietet.

    Die Idee der Zumtobel Lichtzentren entstand vor mehr als 25 Jahren aus dem Gedanken heraus, einen Ort zu schaffen, an dem das beste Licht für eine bestimmte Anwendung erlebbar wird – dieser Unternehmensphilosophie folgt auch das neue Lichtzentrum in Zürich.
  • 03/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Art. Light. Freedom – Vienna Secession is brought to life with tunableWhite

    “To the age its art, to art its freedom” grandly adorns the main entrance. In striking capital letters. As it has done for more than one hundred years. And now the creative freedom associated with this place has become even greater. Throughout the building. Thanks to artificial light that replicates the quality of daylight. Or to be more precise, thanks to tunableWhite LED lighting solutions developed and realised by Zumtobel together with the architect Adolf Krischanitz.
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    It stands resplendent on the Karlsplatz square. Flanked by traffic on all sides, it still somehow manages to radiate a feeling of incredible serenity. White walls, golden ornaments – perhaps brighter now than ever before. Then there are the pale green inner sides of the bay leaves that perfectly come together to form a sphere on the roof. The Latin words “Ver Sacrum” (holy spring), the name of the official journal of the Union of Austrian Artists (Die Vereinigung bildender Künstler Österreichs) in the early years of the Secession, can be seen to the left of the front steps. Designed by architect Joseph Maria Olbrich and opened in 1898 as a showroom for the Union of Austrian Artists, the Vienna Secession (or Wiener Secession) is more than just a building. It is an architectural manifesto for Art Nouveau – or, as they call it in the German-speaking world, for the Jugendstil. For a return to the origins. For getting back to nature. And now, after a year of general refurbishment under the direction of the renowned Viennese architect Adolf Krischanitz, the Wiener Secession is shining with fantastic new splendour.

    The traffic noise stops almost as soon as the front door closes. Visitors first find themselves in an entrance hall defined by two lateral arch-shaped wall niches, where solemn tranquillity and glistening daylight characterise the space. But where does this light actually come from? Glance quickly upwards and no windows are immediately apparent. And that is just what Olbrich wanted. He has integrated daylight in a subtle way by adding two long wall openings over the arches, from which light pours out into the high room. Like a waterfall, you could say.

    Visitors then experience space reduction realised to an absolute minimum in the large main exhibition room that directly adjoins the entrance hall. Right-angled, completely white and divided into a high middle zone and two lower peripheral areas. The space forms a neutral backdrop for the exhibits, enabling them to be shown off to their full effect. Under white glass ceilings. In daylight. In a room that is as bright as day. In fact, so much so that observers could almost be forgiven for thinking that they are standing outside. Indeed, presenting artworks under daylight conditions was one of Olbrich's core design ideas.

    Pure light – almost as if the glass itself is shining

    As part of a previous set of renovations, fluorescent lamps were mounted on the steel roof construction above the glass ceiling to give the impression of daylight in the evening and during winter. Yet this solution had its limitations, delivering inefficient and unnaturally cold light from a series of clearly visible illuminated points on the opaque glass ceiling. During the latest general refurbishment, Zumtobel worked closely with the architects to develop a special lighting solution that uses TECTON slim tunableWhite LED luminaires to guarantee a pleasant, even illumination. Light that is pure. Light that makes it look like the glass itself is shining. Light that can be continuously adjusted between 3000 and 6000 K. And light that therefore mimics natural daylight. “Artificial light with daylight quality is actually better than daylight in exhibition spaces, because it enables us to create constant and calculable lighting situations – at any time,” explained Herwig Kempinger, President of the Vienna Secession. While TECTON slim tunableWhite LED luminaires present works of art in just the right light, the changeable light colours can also be utilised to provide atmospheric lighting for festive functions and special events. The lighting technology from the exhibition rooms has also been specified for the basement – the only difference being that the luminaires in the lower floor are mostly visible.

    A series of flat, closely aligned vaulted ceilings help give the gallery its distinctive appearance. Painted in white to match the walls, these striking elements create an elegant wave effect above the heads of the visitors, bringing a certain dynamism to the otherwise restrained spaces. LINARIA tunableWhite LED light lines are mounted in tracks on the crest of the vaults, whose gentle curves also serve as reflectors. As an added bonus, ARCOS tunableWhite LED spotlights can be clicked into the tracks for even more flexibility.

    Wide-area direct light creates an almost three-dimensional effect

    Another highlight of every visit is the Beethoven Frieze by Gustav Klimt. The painting, measuring 34 metres long and 2 metres high, deals with our desire for happiness and is the only artwork in an impressive high-ceilinged room. Spherical floating female figures, a golden knight, a gorilla-like giant. Matt colours combined with sparkling and shiny golden surfaces, buttons made of glass and motherof- pearl, stained glass and mirrored panels. Without doubt one of the masterpieces of Viennese Art Nouveau. While TECTON slim tunableWhite LED luminaires – similar to those in the main exhibition room – emit light for the illuminated ceiling, SUPERSYSTEM II LED spotlights immerse the Beethoven Frieze for the first time ever in direct wide-area light, creating an almost three-dimensional effect. This kind of solution was not previously possible due to the heat generation and UV emissions of conventional luminaires. All the tunableWhite installations in the basement were added as part of the second construction phase, using luminaires that make the most of advanced technology to ensure completely flicker-free light in a colour temperature range of 2700 to 6500 K.

    ALVA spherical luminaires – discreet, yet very much in fashion

    Before leaving the Vienna Secession, it is certainly worth making a short detour to the gift shop in a room just off the entrance hall. This is where visitors can pick up all kinds of souvenirs, posters and books – all illuminated by four ALVA LED pendant luminaires. Developed by Hermann Czech and Adolf Krischanitz in collaboration with Zumtobel as part of the editions special collection from the Austrian lighting specialist, these restrained fittings harmonise perfectly with the historic architecture. The luminous glass spheres deliver pleasant indirect illumination for gentle background lighting, while integrated LED downlights project vertical accents from above. “Previous spherical luminaires produced light that was too diffuse and generally insufficient. With the ALVA fitting, all three lighting effects can now be controlled independently of each other,” reported Adolf Krischanitz. Here, as everywhere else in the building, visitors experience the subtle functionality and agreeable atmosphere of lighting solutions that also offer artists and curators the greatest possible creative freedom – in fact, more freedom than ever before in this very special building.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 03/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Concentration at the push of a button – Zumtobel supports learning with Active Light in the classroom

    Lights, on – curiosity, go! Active Light accompanies teachers and students throughout the day at Herstedlund School in Denmark. It promotes concentration. Increases efficiency. And boosts relaxation. Zumtobel creates dynamic lighting moods in the classrooms that perfectly complement the particular teaching situation: invigorating, stimulating or relaxing. The Austrian lighting solutions supplier worked with the University of Aalborg and other selected partners to implement this advanced lighting concept at the school in the town of Albertslund.
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    The bell rings. Students at Herstedlund Primary School take their seats. There is a general rustling of paper. The exercise books are out and ready. The text books too. Fourth-year students wait for the beginning of the first lesson. Excitedly? Perhaps. Sleepily? Maybe just a bit. Then suddenly the teacher flicks the light switch and vibrant Active Light from Zumtobel immediately fills the entire space. And triggers attention, curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Light floods the classroom. Light like daylight. Light that creates a pleasant learning atmosphere. Unobtrusive and balanced. Visual performance, visual comfort and the needs of pupils and teachers have all been taken into account. Now the learning can really begin.

    After half an hour, the smart board is switched on. The teacher adjusts the light settings to help students concentrating on the smartboard. At the same time, good visibility of exercise books and materials at the student workspaces remains unaffected. The fourth-year classroom is one of three teaching spaces at the Herstedlund School that now uses Active Light for educational support, offering teachers a choice of four pre-programmed lighting moods. Dimmable round ONDARIA 2 luminaires from Zumtobel create precisely the desired learning environment: timeless, natural, comfortable.

    The lunch break is followed by the inevitable afternoon lull. Yet now teachers can use light to actively counteract student fatigue and increase attention. Stimulating cool-white light really brings the classroom to life, as an energetic lighting mood in line with the concept of Human Centric Lighting raises spirits and refreshes weary students.

    A group exercise rounds off the school day for the fourth-year students. Slightly subdued warm-white light provides a relaxing ambience and gains top marks for supporting social interaction. Breaks and relaxation phases are also at their most effective when this cosy and informal lighting scenario is selected.
    Researchers at the University of Aalborg developed the specific design criteria for the lighting moods in the classroom – and then Zumtobel turned these into a reality. Project partners also used the lighting infrastructure and  LITECOM lighting management system to collect data on the use of light in the classrooms over a three-month period. The findings have now been brought together in a recently published study, which certainly makes for interesting reading. In a nutshell: Active Light provides lighting scenarios that really support learning at the Herstedlund School. This approach also structures lessons and provides versatility and variety for staff and students throughout the day.

    Teachers change the lighting mood three times a day on average. Seasonal daylight differences and the spatial arrangement of the classrooms, which face in different directions, all have an influence on the lighting conditions. “The internet-enabled and app-based lighting management system means that the four pre-programmed lighting scenarios can be easily controlled by the teachers,” explains Lybeck Casper, Sales Director of Zumtobel Group Denmark. “The scenario they choose for different situations is personal and teacher-specific.” The colour settings and light intensity of all the luminaires in the classroom are individually adjustable, while teachers can also define their own settings. This all supports the shared vision of the project partners: to make Herstedlund a true role model for schools of the future.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 02/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Leasing instead of purchase – Lighting without budget burdens, but with optimum quality checks thanks to COESA

    Zero stress with a turnkey lighting solution: The ST Extruded Products Group (STEP-G) is taking advantage of a very special service after opting to renew the lighting at its Bitterfeld plant in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Comprehensive Zumtobel financing services and a complete-supply package have helped STEP-G benefit from a tailored lighting solution without major investment costs – and without major effort. When it comes to quality checks, the COESA luminaire ticks all the boxes with its unique lighting for surface inspections – something to which STEP-G, as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of extruded aluminium profiles, attaches particular importance.
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    Enter the STEP-G production hall in Bitterfeld and you immerse yourself in pure and daylight-bright lighting. Uniform light reaches into every corner of the room and is brilliantly reflected in the aluminium profiles that are manufactured here. Yet this application manages to simultaneously prioritise high lighting quality with high product quality, thanks to the unique technology of the COESA luminaire. With its high-contrast light lines, this solution specifically helps workers who are tasked with inspecting the surfaces of the finished profiles. This is outstanding quality – in terms of both the lighting and the premium products for which STEP-G has become famous the world over.

    The international aluminium specialist was keen to modernise their existing lighting solution – without having to budget for high initial purchase costs. Wishful thinking? In the past, perhaps. But not anymore. Now financing services from Zumtobel make this possible. Instead of simply buying Zumtobel luminaires, STEP-G has chosen to lease the entire lighting solution over a defined time period. And so light becomes a service, meaning that STEP-G no longer has to think about hefty initial investment costs. Plus the company remains completely flexible when it comes to lighting and can benefit straight away from new and innovative lighting solutions. This is a true turnkey project, as Zumtobel has looked after the entire project management – starting with the supply of materials and going on to include installation, interface coordination, commissioning and regular inspections. And all this from one single source. “With the financing offer from Zumtobel Services, STEP-G no longer has to think about lighting and quality for the entire term of the contract,” confirmed Daniel Weber, Project Manager Turnkey at Zumtobel.

    The STEP-G plant in Bitterfeld, where extruded aluminium profiles are manufactured, tested and processed, is now illuminated by a modern lighting solution that supports both the production and the all-important surface inspections. This is where COESA, the first-ever LED quality-control luminaire from Zumtobel, really comes into its own. The fitting combines colour temperature contrasts with precise colour lines to enable flawless surface illumination. A blend of neutral and cold-white colour temperatures, arranged longitudinally, is reflected in the aluminium profiles in a linear and high-contrast way to create the optimum environment for casting a careful eye over the shiny surfaces. When the quality is flawless, observers viewing the metal at a specific angle see a clean reflection made up of perfect linear lines. Yet if something is not quite right, the lines are suddenly interrupted or distorted. This produces a reflection that appears warped and uneven and therefore helps make sure that any defects and irregularities are detected immediately. Workers can then react right away and remove any faulty aluminium profiles before shipment. Simple. And most definitely effective.

    The tried-and-tested TECTON LED continuous-row lighting system from Zumtobel provides general illumination in the halls, while CRAFT LED high-bay luminaires deliver precise light from above. With high light levels optimised for high ceilings and excellent thermal management, CRAFT is ideally equipped for just these kinds of industrial sites. Potentially tricky atmospheric issues are also easily overcome, as this powerful solution has been engineered to minimise the amount of dust and dirt that gathers on the luminaire.

    Zumtobel has used this new solution to markedly improve the lighting quality and thereby make a real difference in the production halls. The overall lighting level has increased – no matter where you are in the factory. There has been a positive effect on employee fatigue. Flickering light has become a thing of the past. And compared to the previous installation, the solution is now much more efficient – both in terms of lighting technology and energy. “A carefully planned lighting solution has enabled us to significantly simplify important jobs for the employees, especially in the key area of surface inspection,” confirmed Gerhard Backhaus, Project Manager at Zumtobel. “The enhanced visibility allows any defects to be identified and rectified straight away.”

    “The whole project and the entire cooperation went very smoothly. The implementation phase was extremely quick and – in some cases – could even take place alongside normal production, without any manufacturing downtime,” reported STEP-G.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 02/2019
    Company

    The future of light is digital: Zumtobel teams up with pureLiFi to step into the wireless enterprise network market

    Zumtobel, one of the European market leaders for professional lighting and associated services, is striving for the use of their innovative LED solutions to empower the latest in wireless technologies called LiFi.   
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    The newest trial, conducted in partnership with pureLiFi, uses LED lights to send large amounts of data while appearing as normal LED light to the human eye. The LiFi trial reflects a series of moves by Zumtobel to evolve lighting beyond its core function of pure illumination and solve challenges for high-speed secure wireless connectivity.

    As part of the trial, Zumtobel has installed pureLiFi’s system, alongside its LED lights. The system enables a data transmission via an LED luminaire at high speeds through small adjustments in the LED’s brightness. The result is a high-speed Internet connection that is more secure, reliable, and able to deliver bandwidth far beyond the capabilities of conventional wireless communications like Wi-Fi.

    LiFi is more secure and virtually interference free compared to other wireless solutions. The technology will enable to leverage vast frequency spectrum resources of visible light. Zumtobel aims to evaluate the market demand for this ground-breaking technology over the coming months. Therefore, Zumtobel will leverage LiFi to create value for lead adopters from industries such as medical, defence, industrial and manufacturing.
     
    “LiFi enabled by Zumtobel allows to step into the next era of wireless communications. Compared to standard radio technology or cellular such as Wi-Fi, LiFi can transmit at multiple gigabits, is more reliable, virtually interference free and uniquely more secure,” says Zumtobel Group CEO Alfred Felder and added, “we believe that in an increasingly interconnected digital world LiFi will play a decisive role in moving our industry into the era of digital light.”

    Alistair Banham, pureLiFi CEO, says, “Zumtobel is one of the European market leaders for professional lighting and associated services. Currently, 80 percent of mobile wireless communications globally happens indoors. By offering connectivity alongside their innovative LED lighting technology, Zumtobel has the potential to become a leading supplier of high bandwidth data communication.”

    pureLiFi will be exhibiting Zumtobel LED technology alongside their next generation LiFi solutions at Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry. The exhibition will include a showcase of gigabit ready LiFi components in exciting commercial form factors, demonstrating LiFi is ready for commercial adoption. 

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 02/2019
    Company

    Award-winning in product design and communication: Zumtobel receives the iF Design Award 2019 not once, but three times

    Zumtobel stands for design. Not just for its luminaires. This year, it was recognised once again with the iF Design Award – in not one, but two categories. The LINETIK and TEELA luminaires, which were created for use in good architecture and sophisticated interiors, won the award for product design. And the Zumtobel Group's annual report 2018/19, which, like every year was created by a renowned designer – this time the New York design studio Sagmeister & Walsh –, won the award for communication.
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    The iF Design Award is considered to be a seal of approval for innovative products with high aesthetic appeal and visionary concepts, both of which are characteristics that belong to Zumtobel's creative and technological self-image. In the more than six decades of its history, iF AWARD and Zumtobel have been connected by regular awards. Last year alone, the luminaire manufacturer received three of the coveted prizes, for the VAERO and ONDARIA luminaires as well as for the brand image film by Andreas Waldschütz on the Lichtforum, Zumtobel's creative showroom. In 2019 there is reason to celebrate again: The artistic annual report, created by the graphic designer Jessica Walsh, received an award, as did the slim LINETIK office luminaire and the TEELA limited special edition. But these luminaires, which are otherwise completely different, have more than just this design award in common. Both were created by renowned designers and, just like the annual report of the Zumtobel Group, are exemplary of the constant cooperation between Zumtobel and architects, designers and artists.

    Ultra-slim across the board: Perfect workplace lighting with LINETIK

    The most striking attribute of LINETIK is its formal restraint: At just 25 by 25 millimetres, the cross-section of the body creates an incredibly slim profile. With its impressive length, on the other hand, the slim light rod appears to contradict the laws of physics. This office luminaire, developed by Zumtobel in collaboration with Simon Fisher and Matt Free from F Mark Ltd, as well as Luke Smith-Wightman, is uncompromising. Maximum light comfort meets ascetic minimalism in terms of the use of materials and resources. Two versions keep the elegant line in balance: The pendant luminaire makes the light source above the work area almost invisible, while the free-standing luminaire, with its protruding luminaire arm, stands discreetly in the room like an orthogonal angle.

    Thanks to its extraordinary design, the free-standing version of LINETIK can illuminate large desks evenly, and for long work areas, two luminaires can be positioned on opposite sides to each other. This makes it an innovative revolutionary: As an alternative to fixed installations, the free-standing version of LINETIK responds to unusual room geometries, keeping offices flexible and Seite 2 / 8 contemporary. Whether or not it takes centre stage with its absolute minimalism can be easily controlled through its colour design. Consistent with their geometric stringency, the luminaires are available in white and black. For the pendant luminaire, the converter housing can also be matched to the ceiling colour. LINETIK brings light into the room while the luminaire, as the source of the light, takes a step back. Representing the luminaire range, the LINETIK pendant luminaire has now been awarded the iF-Design Award 2019.

    A suspended light sculpture: Atmospheric room lighting with TEELA

    TEELA is not only exclusive thanks to its outstanding design: As part of the editions special collection, it is only available in a limited edition and thus has an individual development history. To begin with, the pendant luminaire should be understood as a lighting object, and then also as a lighting tool for physiological perception of room quality. With its spotlights and indirectly illuminating textile membrane, it engages the emotions in the user, on different levels. It gets its atmospheric exterior from the unconventional, creative approach of the famous architecture firm Delugan Meissl, which developed the TEELA together with Zumtobel. Starting with the idea of bundling light and acoustic panels into one object, they began their creative process with the material substance and arrived at a suspended and homogeneously glowing light module and finally integrated mobile spotlights in the flexible surface. The TEELA invites discussion through its design alone – every functional interaction becomes a sensory experience. The realignment of the spotlights, which protrude slightly from the illuminated ceiling, changes the landscape of flexible textile dynamically. The area lighting can also be adjusted. Depending on the situation, the colour temperature and brightness can be changed dynamically. With its remarkable lightness, TEELA is an ethereal phenomenon. And it's always the right choice when you need more than simply just light.

    Visual staging of light: the artistic annual report 2017/2018

    For the implementation of the artistic annual report, which has been being published each year for 27 years, Zumtobel traditionally seeks out partners from architecture, design and art, such as Anish Kapoor, David Chipperfield, James Turell or the Swedish studio Snøhetta. The quality of the authors and their works is regularly recognised with book and design awards. The most recent edition was created by a graphic designer, namely Jessica Walsh from the New York agency Sagmeister & Walsh – straight away receiving an iF Award in the communication category in 2019. Walsh interpreted the book as a broadsheet catalogue, with an enclosed collection of art cards held together by a sophisticated binding. The 20 cards invite discussion through individual visual and sociocritical statements, humorous reflections and typographical interpretations. A fascinating work, which finds an individual expression of the interaction of light, shadow and colour.

    About the iF DESIGN AWARD

    A total of 67 design experts decided on the prize winners for 2019 at a three-day jury process. This design award, founded in Germany and held in high regard internationally, has been being awarded since 1953. The “Industrie Forum” is therefore one of the oldest independent design Seite 3 / 8 institutions and has made it its task to promote good design and its public perception. Zumtobel, as a company, is a regular among the prize-winners. In 2019, there were 6400 entries from 50 countries – Zumtobel brought two of the coveted design prizes back to Dornbirn for its LINETIK and TEELA luminaires.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 02/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Thirteen kilometres of light for science: the new editions luminaire FREELINE

    The latest addition to the FHNW Campus Muttenz in Switzerland is certainly impressive: a cube-shaped building with an edge length of almost 65 metres that rises up to catch the eye from far and wide. Designed by pool Architekten, this is a simple and yet simultaneously monumental construction. And one that is purely devoted to education and research. Zumtobel joined forces with lighting designers from Reflexion to engineer a new luminaire for this extraordinary building: the FREELINE. Now more than 13 kilometres of this clever solution have been delicately woven into the imposing architecture.
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    It is a real powerhouse. A striking new building created by the Swiss pool Architekten studio for the University of Applied Sciences (FH Nordwestschweiz) in Muttenz in Switzerland. Flanked by a tree-lined park and with an extensive forecourt, the 65-metre-tall cube looms over the neighbouring railway tracks. The copper-coloured façade shines invitingly in the sun. And inside, two spectacular atriums offer stunning views up to the sky – all framed by a potent yet uncomplicated style of architecture. There is hustle and bustle everywhere, but that is no real surprise: Around 4000 students and 840 employees come here every day to study. Or to teach. Or to carry out research. Zumtobel has developed the FREELINE luminaire with the Swiss lighting design agency Reflexion und pool Architekten for this bastion of knowledge and understanding – a solution that has now become part of our special collection known as the editions.

    “The architecture of the new building is extremely rigorous and has a strong graphic quality," reported Thomas Mika, Managing Director of Reflexion and the person responsible for the lighting concept of the university building. “So we opted to integrate all the luminaires as far as possible into the existing elements.” This move emphasises the simplicity of the monumental construction, in which a visible concrete support structure and, in stark contrast, the use of warming wood combine to set the overall tone of the project. Diverse daylight situations generate varied atmospheres and spatial impressions. The foyer on the ground floor offers an ideal space to arrive and linger a while, while there is also room for an auditorium, a cafeteria and the “Cube” campus restaurant. Ramp-like staircases with a width of almost three metres form an architectural focal point. They traverse the atrium and stretch up to the two auditorium levels on the first and second floors. Almost like sculptures. Further highlights include the library on the third floor, where a wide band of windows adds structure to the façade, and a roof garden on the 12th floor, where users can enjoy a pleasant green oasis. And it is not just all about the building itself: The unique views of the surrounding area from the office and seminar rooms never fail to make an impression.

    “For a project of this size, the lighting concept needs a main layer that connects the different rooms across the entire building and weaves itself into the architecture,” explained Mika. The ribbed concrete ceilings define the office, seminar and laboratory rooms, along with the corridors of the new university building, from the third to the twelfth floor. Reflexion opted to insert a linear luminaire between each of the ribs, enabling the spaces to be characterised by uniformity in terms of both light density and lighting design. Rather than just a simple two-dimensional band of light, the planners wanted to use contoured three-dimensional illumination to accentuate the architecture and, at the same time, light up the workspaces. Reflexion came to Zumtobel with this request and worked with experts from our Atelier of Light to develop a special luminaire: the FREELINE.

    FREELINE really impresses with its simple elegance. The shape of the luminaire is determined by nothing more than a slim aluminium U-profile and a PMMA diffuser, with the control gear stored remotely to enable a truly miniaturised design. “A three-dimensional light-emitting surface is needed to create light with a real physical presence,” pointed out Mika. “However, lateral light-emitting surfaces are especially problematic in office applications, as people want to work in a glare-free environment.” The FREELINE features a primary and secondary optic to solve this tricky issue. The primary optic consists of a high-performance lens, which pools the light from the LED band, and a diffuser, which precisely directs the light to the emission surface at the bottom of the aluminium profile. The secondary micro-prismatic optic (MPO) guarantees the kind of accurate light control required in office applications and thereby helps make sure that FREELINE meets the requirements for UGR19. Thomas Mika from Reflexion was very positive about the whole design process: “The cooperation with Zumtobel was both a creative and a technical triumph. And that is what really sets Zumtobel apart: the ideas and plans of the client are implemented accurately and with great sensitivity.”

    Two models of FREELINE have been created. Same appearance, different optics – and therefore different applications. While the MPO`s precise light control makes one version ideal for office and school projects, the lenticular optics of the second variant delivers an asymmetric light distribution that beautifully picks out architectural features. This fitting can used for wallwashing or blackboard illumination, like in the seminar rooms at the FHNW Campus Muttenz.

    The FREELINE definitely lives up to its name at the University of Applied Sciences, where more than 13 kilometres of the solution stretch through the new building. Yet it was not just the elegant design and flexible usability that pleased the client. The FREELINE also reduces the need for specially trained personnel on site, as it can simply be mounted directly onto a low-voltage rail. Minor effort, major plus – especially in Muttenz, as the university was keen to move into the premises before the start of the 2018/19 winter semester. Quick and easy installation was therefore just as important as the large quantities that Zumtobel were able to provide in the shortest development and production time possible.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 01/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Apoxyomenos of Lošinj – from the depths of history to the light of the present day

    The Muzej Apoksiomena in the Croatian town of Mali Lošinj tells the emotive story of the statue of Apoxyomenos – the “Lošinj Athlete” that was discovered in the sea just off the coast of the island of Lošinj. Scenic rooms staged by Zumtobel lighting solutions take visitors on a fascinating journey into the ancient world.
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    Nobody knows how long and how come the 2000-year-old bronze statue of Apoxyomenos was resting at the bottom of the Mediterranean. Amateur divers only found it by chance in 1996. Partly concealed in the sand at a depth of 45 metres and covered with shells and seaweed, the figure was eventually recovered from the seabed three years later. All experts agree: The Greek athlete discovered off the coast of Lošinj is a truly unique find. Following six years of meticulous restoration work, Croatian architects Idis Turato and Saša Randić have designed a new museum for Apoxyomenos. Together with the architects and various other planners, Zumtobel has come up with a tailor-made lighting concept that uses a wide range of LED lighting solutions to really bring the story of the statue to life.

    Lush vegetation, rolling hills and a mild Mediterranean climate – Mali Lošinj is a stunning location on the island of Lošinj in the middle of the azure-blue northern Adriatic Sea. Muzej Apoksiomena is situated in the old Kvarner Palace on the waterfront. At first glance, the building barely stands out from the neighbouring houses. Yet look a little harder and the eye is drawn to a glass roof structure and a covered entrance area, which is actually an expansive balcony. Another special feature is revealed as evening approaches: coloured rays of light. The outer wall and balcony then appear as a composition of coloured surfaces that exert an irresistible attraction. RGB wall luminaires from the IKONO LED family and floor-recessed PASO II fittings from Zumtobel installed here offer a taste of what really sets this construction apart. This is a unique treasure chest – a museum that houses a lovingly designed spatial concept in which visitors pass through carefully staged rooms to slowly become familiar with Apoxyomenos and its fascinating history. “Like in scenes from a Stanley Kubrick film, visitors experience a museum that unfolds in rhythmic sections in front of their very eyes,” explained Turato when asked to define this special concept.

    The first image of this visual journey is the seabed. On entering the museum, visitors find themselves in a hollowed-out building with bright cobalt-blue walls. A freely positioned white steel structure seems to hover above, with roughly welded steel plates that somehow resemble the hull of a powerful ship. The SUPERSYSTEM II multifunctional LED tool from Zumtobel installed in low-voltage tracks on the steel body and LED strips integrated into the floor along the walls combine to focus attention on these room-defining elements. As a key part of the overall room concept, the light sources themselves remain discreetly in the background.

    An escalator concealed in a white sheet-steel tube leads up inside the spatial sculpture to the first exhibition space. Here, in soft light provided by back-lit wall panels and tables, visitors are offered their first insights into the historical significance, location and restoration of the statue. The story continues in the neighbouring cinema, where a colourful interior design evokes images of aquatic plants. This impression is created by completely covering the seating steps, walls and ceiling with floral patterns made from hand-woven merino wool. The general impression of an underwater world is reinforced by floor-recessed PASO II LED RGB luminaires, which use flowing colour transitions to generate a murky subaquatic atmosphere.

    Visitors then wander up a completely red staircase into the media room, which does more than just demonstrate how the story of Apoxyomenos has been received and reported all over the world. It is here where the Greek athlete can be seen for the first time in all its original glory through an opening in the ceiling. Another staircase with vibrant olive-wood wall panelling leads to the top floor, where items discovered inside the figure on the seabed – such as branches, herb seeds and olive stones – are displayed in small, wall-mounted showcases. Precise accent lighting of the objects is achieved with the help of the miniaturised MICROTOOLS LED lighting system.

    Without any colours and – above all – without any hint of shadow, the white main chamber that houses the actual Apoxyomenos statue represents the mystical high point of the museum. The special aura, which really puts the focus on the 1.92-metre-high bronze figure, is achieved with the help of a white floor and white textile walls that seem to merge seamlessly into the ceiling. An indiscernible light solution with invisible light sources was required to support this dematerialising effect. The challenge was met by a constellation of Zumtobel’s wide-area CIELOS LED luminaires – not flush-mounted, but with LED strips inserted between each fitting. The result: no discernible joins on the textile surfaces between the individual elements. In deliberate contrast, light surfaces installed diagonally to the direction of the glass floor tiles create a kind of visual foundation.

    Moving on from the main chamber, visitors finally reach a completely black stairwell illuminated by LINARIA light lines. This space, featuring a glass roof structure that was already visible from the waterfront, has been finished off with a kaleidoscopic-type mirrored ceiling that offers views over the picturesque bay of Mali Lošinj.

    The Muzej Apoksiomena is a real spatial artwork – a fine structural composition that impressively presents Apoxyomenos and shows how the statue emerged from the depths of the sea to finally once again see the light of day. Zumtobel LED luminaires, which can be controlled using the LITECOM lighting management system and are dimmable for dramatic effect, play a significant role throughout the building in helping to tell this unique story in all its fascinating glory.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 01/2019
    Lighting Solution

    Setting new standards: Freiburg Town Hall is Germany`s first net plus-energy administration building

    Natural shapes. Solar panels on a protective cover crafted from glass and wooden slats. Bright interiors that ooze discreet elegance. A human scale. All of these aspects are perfectly reflected in the new Freiburg Town Hall. In addition, LED lighting solutions specially developed by Zumtobel in collaboration with ingenhoven architects, Tropp Lighting Design and the City of Freiburg authorities help the building generate more energy than it actually uses. A very positive outcome – in every sense.

    © HG Esch Photography

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    A six-storey building. Nestled behind large sycamore trees. And yet it is neither the size nor the situation of the new town hall that first catch the eye. It is the shape: a natural oval form that cannot help but inspire curiosity. Move a little closer and an intriguing glass façade comes slowly into view. A façade with slender storey-high slats that stretch around the building. A façade with slats that are light larch wood on one side and full-scale photovoltaic panel on the other, simultaneously shaping and showing the core characteristics of the new town hall in the German city of Freiburg: stylish and functional design with pioneering energy efficiency based on a concept devised by general planning consultants DS Plan. In close cooperation with ingenhoven architects, Tropp Lighting Design and the city of Freiburg authorities, Zumtobel set about developing customised energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for the offices, the Public Service Centre and the canteen. The results are now an essential part of the clearly structured and ergonomic work and service areas for the 840 employees who were previously spread across various different locations. And that is not all: These solutions have also played a major role in enabling Freiburg Town Hall to become Germany's first net plus-energy administration building.

    Around 1000 visitors a day make their way across the square in front of the town hall and head through the porch into the Public Service Centre. This is where people can apply for official documents and take advantage of the range of services offered by the city authorities. And this is where windowless corridors with individual offices have now given way to a spacious hall in elegant white – flooded with light – that takes up the whole of the oval inner quadrangle. And then the eyes are drawn upwards. First to the large round glass skylights and then on to the wooden façade of the five office floors and finally the sky above Freiburg. Only then do visitors notice the four round service islands.

    With a diameter of around 10 metres, these “rotundas” feature a central cylinder that houses a discreet private area flanked by circular consultation zones. Above each of these stations hangs a delicate lighting ring, suspended from the ceiling, which emphasises the rotundas as islands of light in the hall. At the same time, this ring illuminates the workspaces without the need for any additional fittings. Working alongside the planners and Fries Innenausbau, the manufacturer that developed the rotundas as integrated furniture systems, Zumtobel was asked to come up with a lighting solution that hits strict targets in terms of atmosphere and simultaneously fulfils various other requirements.

    Creative-constructive aspects were just as important as the specifications defined by the City of Freiburg authorities for workplace lighting exposure and sustainability. Glare-free light without the unwelcome sight of discernible LED points has been achieved thanks to a multilayer luminaire structure incorporating a diffuser and micro-prismatic optics. The crucial increased colour rendering index (CRI) > 90 guarantees maximum light quality and colour authenticity. Interchangeable gear trays were also required to support the conservation of resources, enabling the lighting technology to be replaced without having to renew the custom-made luminaire housing and its sophisticated optical unit.

    Two routes lead from the Public Service Centre to the internal offices on the upper floors. Elegant subdued colours, large-scale glazed facades and office partitions, as well as an open-plan layout, create a pleasantly bright working environment. An environment where easy orientation and open communication are actively supported. When it comes to light quality, colour authenticity and future-proofing, the linear luminaires suspended from the ceiling in the offices meet the same stringent requirements as the solution designed for the rotundas on the ground floor.

    To help provide optimal support for visual tasks in the biaxial offices with just one luminaire, it was also necessary to be able to install the solutions in the middle of the axes of the office raster. Stepping up to this challenge, Zumtobel developed a 3-metre-long fitting based on the LINCOR product, combining a very slim cross-section of just 63 x 64 mm with an extremely high light output of 11,000 lumens. A perfectly defined colour temperature of 4000 Kelvin and outstanding glare reduction – thanks to the mini-cell structure – ensure excellent light quality, while the 70-30 ratio of direct light onto the workspace and indirect illumination of the ceiling also has a noticeably positive effect. Brightness and motion sensors are integrated into the luminaires for added comfort and, importantly, added efficiency. Speaking of efficiency, the light level is permanently adjusted to provide the required illuminance of 500 lux on the desks – but only when it is really needed. If all the employees have left the office, the luminaires are simply switched off. No users, no light, no waste.

    Workers in the town hall have access to the staff restaurant on the ground floor at lunchtime – a large, completely white open space that echoes the look and feel of the Public Service Centre. The clear design creates a structured space in which features like vertical stripes of colour on the walls and wooden chairs generate a pleasant feeling. A warm feeling. And a welcome feeling. Recessed completely into the ceiling, special prismatic luminaires from Zumtobel meet the same exacting standards of design, quality and energy efficiency as the solutions in the work areas. High colour rendering of CRI > 90 also plays a key role in the restaurant, presenting the meals in just the right tones, with just the right light, for just the right effect.

    Achieving this perfect blend of architecture, design and light to deliver the highest standards of well-being, design and energy efficiency have helped Freiburg Town Hall become Germany`s first net plus-energy administration building. Yet the awards and attention are in no way limited by national borders. Honours like the Balthasar Neumann Prize show just how this building has really shot to prominence on the international architecture scene. The Balthasar Neumann jury recognised the new Freiburg Town Hall as one of three projects that have been “realised in a very special way through interdisciplinary cooperation”. In addition, the building has won the  German Sustainability Award 2019 from the German Sustainable Building Council (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen or DGNB) in the ‘Sustainable Building’ category.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 11/2018
    Lighting Solution

    A creative powerhouse for the arts – Zumtobel lights up a new building at the Kunsthalle Mannheim

    Showcasing art with light is a Zumtobel specialty. Planning and realising a high-quality and perfectly tailored lighting solution not only helps preserve works of art, but also supports both the overall concept of the exhibition and the architecture of the museum. And that is exactly what has been achieved in close cooperation with a·g Licht at the Kunsthalle Mannheim – the largest new building at a German art museum in recent years. As a cultural temple to the urban future of Mannheim, architects from the Gerkan, Marg and Partner (gmp) architectural office have crafted a design that creates an elegant “city in the city”.
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    As an essential part of the curatorial concept, light fundamentally shapes the emotional perception of architecture and art, helping observers to make a real sensory connection with the pieces on show. The seemingly simple-looking new building at the Kunsthalle Mannheim, which was recently opened to much fanfare after three years of construction, houses a radical museum concept – a concept in which the emotions behind the art play a role. A key role. The 68.3-million-euro building is currently the largest new construction at an art museum in the whole of Germany and has attracted almost 90,000 visitors in the first three months. Yet it is more than just the exceptional idea of the museum that draws people here. The unique architecture has also caught the eye. The Kunsthalle Mannheim is in fact a “city in the city”, where ten cubes invite visitors to really engage with the most varied aspects of art.

    The scale of the rooms and especially the atrium, a 22-metre-high space awash with daylight, placed special demands on the lighting concept – which is why a clever solution devised by lighting design agency a·g Licht was required to place the 13,000 square metres of floor space in just the right light. Various factors helped Daniel Walden from a·g Licht make the call to involve Zumtobel with this lighting concept (and not just the long-standing cooperation between the two companies). “Zumtobel impressed with a high degree of lighting comfort and light quality, but also with their extensive portfolio of accessories, which has enabled us to tailor the light intensity and thereby accurately meet the changing requirements of the exhibition lighting. Because that is exactly what the “museum in motion” concept needs: flexibility and adaptability,” explained Daniel Walden.

    A highly adaptable and individually tailored lighting installation has been carefully designed for the first special exhibition: assorted works by the photo artist Jeff Wall, which ran until the start of September. However, while the lighting installation at the Kunsthalle perfectly showcased Wall's concept photography exhibition, Zumtobel has also made sure that the solution can provide optimal staging for other exhibitions in the future. Just like “The Construction of the World: Art and Economy” (Konstruktion der Welt: Kunst und Ökonomie), the first major theme-based exhibition at the Kunsthalle Mannheim that opened on 11. October 2018. The exhibits and the atrium are highlighted using ARCOS 3 LED xpert spotlights. The result: flawless accents and excellent efficiency. Indeed, the museum has already ordered another 250 ARCOS 3 LED xpert fittings to further extend the installation. At the same time, the DIAMO and PANOS infinity lighting systems have been combined with illuminated ceilings to deliver ideal illumination at all times in the spaces adjacent to the exhibition cubicles. All thanks to various personalisation options and high-quality accent lighting. This unique lighting installation has made the theory of a “museum in motion” a reality – and at the same time given exhibits a fresh and truly authentic appearance.

    The visionary building design from gmp Architekten integrates urban quality through a refined interior structure. In terms of the architecture, the construction meets all the requirements of the 21st century – in much the same way as the pioneering lighting concept. Daniel Walden and the lighting designers at a·g Licht in Bonn have been working together with Zumtobel for years. So they certainly appreciate the intensive partnership-based cooperation offered by the in-house lighting experts from the lighting manufacturer’s “Atelier of Light” project-planning department. This is where flexibility, versatility and customer focus are key – three cornerstones of the Zumtobel approach.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

  • 11/2018
    Products

    SUPERSYSTEM integral collection by: EOOS – the ultimate set of architectural lighting instruments

    The new Zumtobel SUPERSYSTEM integral collection designed by the renowned Austrian studio EOOS from is something special. This comprehensive range of carefully miniaturised tools offers one high-quality solution for countless architectural lighting tasks. How? By fusing pure integrated design with maximum adaptability for both the application and the architecture. Seamlessly. Like never before.
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    SUPERSYSTEM has somehow always been an example of nominative determinism – the idea that an outcome is driven by a name. Super and system: These two words perfectly sum up this acclaimed product family’s unique status as a portfolio of outstanding lighting solutions. Just ask the thousands of lighting designers who have realised challenging installations with SUPERSYSTEM over the years. Or the architects who have specified this stylish range for stunning design-led projects all over the world. Now the SUPERSYSTEM integral collection from Zumtobel takes this concept one step further by integrating an extensive range of lighting instruments into one highly flexible holistic lighting solution. The result: a truly super system.

    Designing the lighting for indoor architectural applications is often a tricky business. For example, take a moment to consider the varied lighting tasks in a single museum, shop or office. See what we mean? Complex challenges require comprehensive solutions – which is why the SUPERSYSTEM integral collection features the widest selection of architectural lighting instruments around. One range offers adjustable accent lighting with spots or gimbals, horizontal downlighting, perfect vertical wallwashing and pleasant indirect lighting. And this is quantity without sacrificing quality. Each version has been carefully engineered for the exact needs of the particular job. Just take a look at the clever functionality of the unique synchro gimbal fitting. Simple, clever design manages to deftly combine a rotatable downlight with the linear topology of SUPERSYSTEM integral. Or step back and appreciate the identical wallwashing characteristics guaranteed by the Litecarve free-form reflector. And while the distribution can be adapted to the task, one thing stays the same: the high level of visual comfort. All across the range. Low brightness with minimal light spill, outstanding glare control and the use of deep-source reflectors make sure this solution meets the highest standards demanded by Art and Culture, Retail and Office applications.

    Different requirements used to mean different products. But not any more. As the name suggests, the SUPERSYSTEM integral collection integrates all these options into one pure design concept. Thanks to the renowned Austrian studio EOOS. However, once again, the issue of flexibility also comes to the fore. Why should lighting designers be the only ones to benefit? Depending on the nature of the particular application, architects can select a version to suit every interior architecture. And every taste.

    “The comprehensive planning tool is based on the poetic idea of stringently miniaturising the spotlight heads, enabling them to be perfectly integrated into a continuous linear structure. The system magically emits light from a slender groove as a recessed or track fitting. SUPERSYSTEM integral even makes it possible to adapt existing track installations, which improves efficiency and saves resources – and helps this system make an important contribution as a sustainable design solution.” (Harald Gründl, EOOS)

    A definite design highlight is the seamless linear 3-phase channel that can be recessed into the ceiling, surface mounted or suspended. All the different lighting elements are fully integrated into the slender channel, providing invisible illumination at its very best. Yet sometimes solutions are made to be seen – solutions like the elegant 3-phase track version for surface or suspended mounting. Ideal for refurbishment projects. Consistent miniaturisation and high-quality materials like die-cast aluminium and injection-moulded plastics blend to create a refined architectural appearance that can grace both new and retrofit projects. Suddenly the days of installing bulky spotlights on a clearly distinct track seem long gone. If these sophisticated linear track versions are still not enough, simple (yet effective) individual standalone versions can be specified to really underline the outstanding flexibility of this range. And when it comes to taste, a choice of white, black, copper and glossy aluminium finishes should give architects and end-users plenty to think about.

    Talking of choices, the SUPERSYSTEM integral collection also covers all bases when it comes to photometric performance, lighting characteristics and controls. An output of up to 3000 lumens makes this range a real alternative for applications where traditional downlights have generally been the only option. A stylish alternative. And an alternative with up to 75 lumens per Watt, to be precise. Colour temperatures of 2700 K, 3000 K and 4000 K suit various different requirements, while excellent colour rendering of Ra 90 comes as standard. As does visual comfort. Yet good visual comfort also means good lighting management, which is why versions with DALI and basicDIM wireless via Bluetooth ensure added adaptability and tailored light that stimulates the senses, creates experiences and protects sensitive objects. What else would you expect from a solution that embodies the core principles of our pioneering Active Light approach?

    The SUPERSYSTEM integral collection from Zumtobel. It really is all in the name.

    Zumtobel. The Light.

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