Rogier van der  Heide:

“The past six years, between architects UNStudio and myself a close collaboration has been established. UNStudio is an architecture office with great appreciation of light present in all of their work. The unique 51.3m high concave façade has got a lighting and product design conceived in a joint design process between the architects, my team at Arup and Alliance Optotek (AOP), the local lighting manufacturer. Using workshops and brainstorm sessions, the team developed a textured façade skin responding to the environment by reflecting daylight and showing its 3D nature at night with integrated lighting.”

via:rogiervanderheide.com, www.arup.com, unstudio.com
photos: Christian Richters

The refurbishment of 77 Des Voeux Road (now known as the Nexxus Building), transformed a 1960’s curtain wall relic into an ‘A’ grade modern and efficient commercial building in the heart of Central, Hong Kong. The sustainable theme was continued into the lighting design. Nexxus needed to make a statement, something that would stand out when viewed in the two parallel ‘concrete canyons’ of Des Voeux Road and Connaught Roads, between which the building is sandwiched.

An LED ‘direct view’ lighting system was devised which would be integrated into the architects facade design, which included an organic arrangement of illuminated vertical fins of varying length and layout, overlayed on a geometric pattern of LED pixels which would be placed in the spandrel panels at the mullion junctions. Illumination physics BAR was ideal for the fins both in terms of dimensions and the rear cable entry arrangement. Approximately 600 lineal metres of product was used across the three faces of the building.

The pixels required a custom design for a small version of the illumination physics DOT, which could be integrated into the curtain wall system panels prior to them being mounted on the building. Core to the installation methodology was the objective to avoid any post fixing of lighting equipment. In the end this technique saved 80% of the cost of a more typical facade lighting installation, in which the equipment is installed after the curtain wall is complete. 1150 illumination physics SPECKs were used.The lighting system is controlled through a graphic interface product also from Illumination Physics,‘X SOFT’. Both the illumination physics BAR and the SPECKs are mapped into one template and the system is programmed in video. Originally the building was illuminated with flood lights mounted on the podium roof. Over 20,000 watts was used and because of the reflective nature of the old curtain wall, light pollution was one of the results. The new Illumination Physics lighting system uses approximately 4000 watts.

Product:
1124 pieces of illumination physics SPECK 6 were used with special custom mounting bracket
100 pieces of illumination physics HP 12 channel drivers
500 pieces of illumination physics BAR Graphic in 500 and 1000mm lengths
50 pieces of illumination physics 3-way custom red Dot
Control system illumination Physics X-soft

via/by: illuminationphysics.com

Join the free guided tours with 6 Lighting Designers – in Partnership with Light+Building world-architetcs.com organizes guided tours with Gerd Pfarré, Gabriele Allendorf, Ulrike Brandi, Jan Dinnebier/Jan Blieske and Daniel Klages. The tours will start at the Outlook Lounge and last approximately 2 hours.      Each of them will show you individual highlights at Light+Building in Frankfurt from April 11 to 16.

Registration required!

Contact via: world-architects.com

The Balance Tower is part of the newly constructed pumping station built by the Spanish water supply company ATLL and is designed to conceal a water reservoir within it. Its media skin developed by ag4 is a stunning fusion of moving images with the extraordinary architecture of the building. This mediatecture, developed in line with the function of the building, is based on a future-oriented approach that aims for a sustainable and long-term impact. The concrete core of the structure spanning a surface of 768 m2 is covered in an exciting patchwork of metal and photovoltaic elements, creating an intelligent form of self-generated energy supply concealed within an aesthetic element. The LED profiles fit perfectly into the joints of the outer skin, emphasizing the vertical structure of the construction.

By night, the dynamic and transparent facade will display an installation consisting of abstract-figurative light patterns and text elements at a resolution of 3650 pixels. The light choreography is based on a reduced design. The installation is not conceived as a closed narrative, but rather uses interwoven image sequences to explore the various themes concerning the sustainable management and use of energy and water reserves. Minimalist animations evoke the natural water cycle of rain, water flow and evaporation. The design concept for the media installation was conceived by ag4 in close collaboration with ruisanchez arquitectes and ATLL.

The 18,000 LEDs will be powered by energy generated in an environmentally friendly way. The average energy demand of approx. 0.7 kW-h required to power the installation by night will be generated through the tower’s own photovoltaic system and then fed into the public power grid during the day. The media skin of the Fontsanta Balance Tower is a pioneering contribution by ag4 media facade GmbH to the development and construction of “green” media facades.

Architect: ruisanchez arquitectes, Barcelona.

via/from:ag4 media facade Gmbh.

Just having finished construction shortly before the new year, New Sky
Dome Building is one of Ban-Qiao City’s newest and unique apartment
towers. The building’s media lighting system is comprised of
customized flexible LED units housed within the key features of the
facade: an array of 476 x 3.6m circles. Each circle is segmented into
eight video pixels, with a system total of 3,808 pixels.

New Sky Dome Building – Taipei
Manufacturer – Star Reach Corporation
Contractor – THATS Group International Limited

photos: THATS Group International Limited

via: Andrew Hyman, cclightway.com

Traxon Technologies innovative lighting fixtures were used to turn a windmill into a sensational piece of LED art. Equipped with over 1,000 ultra bright Dot XL-9 lighting fixtures (9,000 LEDs) the world’s biggest revolving media screen displays a multitude of stunning colors as well as medium-resolution video content. Challenged by the difficult winter-weather conditions as well as the implementation of an installation on a constantly rotating object, artist Michael Pendry chose Traxon as partner for realizing this spectacular project due to its innovative and customizable lighting solutions. IP67-rated the Dot XL offers exactly the flexibility needed for this demanding project. Available with 3, 6 or 9 high performance LEDs per dot casing the single controllable dots are mounted on an elastic cable with customizable pitch offering the possibility of an installation on almost any surface or three-dimensional shape. Furthermore the Dot XL has a robust casing that ensures full outdoor capability. Controllable by DMX as well as DVI input signals Traxon’s Dot XL displays full color lighting effects and spectacular video animations. Visible from a distance of up to 30 kilometers the LED windmill is a pioneering installation and a symbol for green energy, due to Traxon’s cutting-edge innovation using only as much electricity as one hair dryer or two water kettles.

via/by:traxontechnologies.com

The University of Liverpool was enthusiastic about the idea of illuminating the facade of their Active Learning Laboratory using endless artistic colour scenes to highlight the building’s presence. They wanted to make a statement that the University was not only providing a new education building with first class facilities, but also one which would advertise itself to the City of Liverpool and to the wider audience in an area which surrounds the city from a far. There is also lot of competition to attract students between the University of Liverpool and John Moore’s University and the client wanted this building to “outshine the competition.” Being located next to the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the highest landmark in the City, Arup Lighting proposed the use of rich vibrant, multi coloured images to “paint” the facades with light in order to raise theprofile of the University at night.

The Active Learning Laboratory façade was developed with Sheppard Robson Architects as part of the University of Liverpool’s Engineering Building refurbishment. The facades 1500 m² of glazing floats 1.0 meter above the main building and consists of alternate rows of 1400 mm dotted pattern and 800 mm clear glass panels on each of the seven levels. A total of 413 No dotted panels provide a highly reflective surface for illumination using specially selected RGB (19212 x 1W) LED linear luminaires. The lighting effects can be programmed to display simple numbers, letters and geometric shapes as well as an infinite array of lights, colour, morphing designs and patterns with selective fading over set time periods.

Via/By: arup.com

Imagine that pixels could fly out of your computer screen and create an immersive, luminous cloud capable of displaying digital information in three-dimensional space. This is the vision beyond Flyfire, a new project put together by researchers at MIT’s SENSEable City Lab and Aerospace Robotics and Embedded Systems Laboratory (ARES Lab). Flyfire uses a large number of remotely controlled, self-organizing “micro helicopters”. Each helicopter contains small LEDs and acts as a smart pixel. Through digitally controlled movements, the helicopters perform elaborate and synchronized choreographies, generating a unique free-form display in three-dimensional space.
“It’s like when Winnie the Pooh hits a beehive: a swarm of bees comes out and chases him while changing its configuration to resemble a beast,” said E Roon Kang, a research fellow at the SENSEable City Lab who is leading the project. “In Flyfire, each bee is essentially a pixel that emits colored light and reconfigures itself into different forms.”

Using the self-stabilizing and precise controlling technology developed by the ARES Lab, the motion of the pixels is adaptable in real time. The Flyfire canvas can transform itself from one shape to another or bring a two-dimensional photographic image into an articulated shape. “Today we are able to simultaneously control a handful of micro helicopters, but with Flyfire we are aiming to scale up and reach very large numbers,” said Emilio Frazzoli, head of the ARES Lab. “Flyfire opens up exciting possibilities: as on a conventional screen, pixels can change color, but now they can also move, creating a transient trace of light in three-dimensional space,” said team member Carnaven Chiu. “Unlike traditional displays that can only be seen from the front, Flyfire becomes a three dimensional immersive display that can be experienced from all directions.”

via/by: senseable.mit.edu

Thanks to Oliver Schürer for the hint!

Open Up is an advanced project development workshop for the digital facade of Medialab-Prado. From February 9 through 23, working groups will develop selected projects in a collaborative way. The event includes theoretical activities February 9, 10 and 16 with lectures by the teachers of the workshop and also Erkki Huhtamo and Jennifer Steimkamp.

Technical information:
The MEDIALABPRADO’s LED screen uses the Philips Color Kinetics iCOLOR FLEX SLX system.
It is formed by a series of rectangular panels that are fixed to the facade of the building that faces

Digital facade’s size, inferior rectangle:
Width: 14.5 m (48′)
Height: 9.4 m (30′)

Digital facade’s resolution:
Horizontal resolution: 192 lines
Minimum vertical resolution: 125 lines
Maximum vertical resolution: 157 lines
Resolution: 192 x 157

Nodes/Pixels:
Number of nodes (inferior rectangle): 24.000
Number of total nodes: 26.680
Each node is composed of 7 LED’s; 2 red, 3 green, and 2 blue.
The iCOLOR FLEX SLX system can display up to 64.000 million (36bit) of RGB additive colors, of
constantly variable intensity.

via:medialab-prado.es

Create your own Shooting Star and share your wish with your loved ones and the millions of commuters!
From December 16th 2009 to January 4th 2010, you can visit the project’s website by clicking here and create your own Shooting Star.

The interaction is easy and fun, accessible to all from 5 to 105 years old. You will then receive an email indicating when your Shooting Star will be displayed on the Electrabel Power Station Cooling Tower in Drogenbos, the south side of Brussels. Come see it LIVE or watch it on the webcam on the project’s website. Everyone’s Shooting Stars will be displayed on the Tower from 5pm to 8pm, Brussels time (GMT+1) until January 4th 2010.

via/by:magicmonkey.net