LARGE PROJECT, NARROW TIMEFRAME

An initial draft of the lighting design for the Löhr Centre, which opened in 1984, was created in 2014, when partial modernisation of the 32,000 sqm sales area was planned. In March 2016, ECE decided to renovate all three floors, where around 130 shops are located today. The lighting plan had to be completely revised by the time of reopening in spring 2017 and finished while the shopping centre was open for business.

THREE ATRIUMS PROVIDE STRUCTURE

As part of the relaunch, a new interior design was chosen that divided the mall into three sections: “The Lobby” was depicted in energising blue, green and yellow, “The Boutique” in stimulating red, blue purple and turquoise, “The Collection”, with its floor-to-ceiling bookcase, as a highlight in warm red, purple and yellow.

COLOUR ACCENTS USING TUNABLE WHITE

The lighting concept picks up from these colour schemes in the form of decorative, geometrical light panels, which create an impressive ceiling design. Coloured film serves as filters, where the colour effect varies depending on the time of day. Distribution of the high-performance LEDs in a dense 10 cm grid ensures that the luminous effect is extremely homogeneous. In the daytime, the general lighting has high luminous intensity with a cool colour temperature of 4000 K, the decorative ceiling lights create a strong contrast with warm light up to 2200 K. In a night-time setting with subtle general light, the light panels produce a strong contrast with 4000 K.

LIGHTING MOODS OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY

The lighting concept is based on energy-efficient LED technology with tunable white, four lighting moods are created by using luminous intensity and colour temperature. These moods are produced using day/night lights with a special Fresnel lens system, which distributes direct and indirect light to the optimum. Perfectly shielded lights are built into a streamlined LED strip system that is just 4 cm wide, so that accented light appears like patches of sunlight, which are only perceived unconsciously. An exterior sensor captures the natural light values; the controls operate according to an automatic programme.

QUALITY LEISURE SPACE

Additional mood spots provide light in the seating and display areas. Special pendant lights with metal grid shades, up to 4 m in diameter and 3 m in height, fill the mall visually and accentuate the welcoming character of the Löhr Centre.

Photos: Tom Gundelwein

Europa Galerie

ECE opened the shopping centre in October 2010. The plan for the artificial lighting was to merge the new gallery harmoniously with the old building, which used to house the mine management offices and is listed as a site of historical interest. Light joints in the floor and cornices on the ceiling mark the separation between the two complexes and create a connection between old and new.

Magical centre of attraction

The 25,000 m2 sales surface area is given rhythm with lights that project wide and narrow beams and draw shoppers’ attention. Ambient lighting in the form of downlights provides colour temperatures of between 3000 and 4200 K and, depending on the time of day, supports the transition between inside and outside. Where natural light is lacking, extensive illuminated ceilings brighten these areas. The illuminated façade of the old building is a focal point: gobo projections bathe it uniformly in light. This bespoke product had already proved itself at Nova Eventis.

Nova Eventis

After refurbishment, the ‘event mall’ celebrated its re-opening in September 2006 as an exciting place of discovery with a 76,000 m2 sales area. The lighting concept was intended to communicate this approach visually. The theme for the two-storey shopping area was “four seasons”. Alternating colour scores appear, projected from light cornices, dynamic colour ceilings and four illuminated pylons.

Unknown dimensions

The main entrance is reached through the car park in front, through the installation called “The Living Seas”. A floor-to-ceiling arch sculpture welcomes shoppers with interactive light and sound installations and puts them in the mood for their visit to the cathedral of consumption. This backdrop was rated “Outstanding“ at the DP3D awards in 2006 and was nominated for the German Design Prize in 2007. The lighting concept focussed in particular on the design of the exterior. Framed projections accentuate the façade, the pool of water acts as an interactive stage and a globe of light continues the theme of water teasingly. According to ECE, the use of the very latest in lighting technology, which was frequently employed in the projects by way of bespoke lights, saves around 20% of the energy costs in the new buildings. Photos: ECE Europagalerie Saarbrücken, Tom Gundelwein, Oliver & Tobias Link