The developer of the Matrix Office Park – a LEED-Gold standard development in Zagreb’s central business district – wanted a distinctive and low-energy exterior lighting for the twin buildings at the heart of the development. It challenged independent lighting design studio Skira to come up with a creative concept that had a simple installation yet minimised the number and the complexity of fittings.
A clever use of an exterior blade fitting has led to a dramatic and dynamic lighting installation at a head office.
The developer of the Matrix Office Park – a LEED-Gold standard development in Zagreb’s central business district – wanted a distinctive and low-energy exterior lighting for the twin buildings at the heart of the development.
It challenged independent lighting design studio Skira to come up with a creative concept that had a simple installation yet minimised the number and the complexity of fittings.
Additionally, all the wiring had to be hidden, and no installation boxes or electrical panels were permitted on the facade or on the roof.
The ingenious solution was to use IP-rated fittings with 360 degree blade optics – the iGuzzini Trick luminaires – to illuminate the brise soleil, which in turn acted as a secondary reflectors.
Bespoke fixtures were designed with a new base which contains the built-in DMX-RDM electronic driver completed with in-out connector for plug-and-play connection.
The custom version of the Trick has since became a standard product available in the iGuzzini catalogue so that other lighting designers can benefit from its unique properties.
The single point fittings create lines of light above and below on the brise soleil shading system on the façades of two buildings.
The lighting on each building is connected via a fibre optic cable to create controlled scenes on both buildings simultaneously.
Apparently random patterns of light were then programmed to create dynamic, vibrant and colourful scenes, to accentuate horizontal linear architectural detail on both buildings.
The project uses a control application to manage large virtual LED-based mounted on building wall.
Various content is then programmed to accommodate any request from the client.
Special scenes can be programmed for festivals or national holidays – the preset content is automatically activated via the online calendar, or manually on request.
After sunset, the twin buildings at Matrix Office Park delicately brightens the area and contributes to urban nightscape.
This instrument of spatial invention allowed the designer to create some attractive scenes, some are subtle and some are more compelling.
The original function of light was used in new way as dependance of external shape and form of facade.
‘It’s a sort of visual trick done with Trick,’ said practice founder Dean Skira.
Source: Lux Review
