REVIEW: LIGHT + BUILDING 2024
Illuminating progress
The Light + Building is back – after the special Light + Building Autumn Edition in October 2022, which provided a first post-pandemic kick-off for the industry. The last "classic" edition of the world's leading trade fair for lighting and building technology took place in 2018. In the halls with the so-called decorative luminaires, big names such as Flos, Vibia, Occhio, Marset, Lasvit, Ingo Maurer, Grau or Fontana Arte were absent now. Nevertheless, there was still a lot to discover, such as at Artemide: with "Criosfera", architect and researcher Giulia Foscari has designed a cylindrical luminaire whose inner layer consists of blown, recycled glass. The structure is inspired by the ice cores that are extracted in the Antarctic to analyse the trapped air bubbles of past millennia - the archive of our climate. At the same time, she has created a comprehensive overview of Antarctic architecture with the publication "Antarctic Resolution". "Lune d'acqua" by Benedetta Tagliabue and Ersilia Vaudo, on the other hand, is inspired by moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn. With "Discovery Dialogue" and "Wish you were here", Carlotta de Bevilacqua and her daughter Carolina Gismondi de Bevilacqua also show new approaches in the Discovery project, for which Ernesto Gismondi once created the basis.
Indirect, atmospheric light, which scatters into the room from sculptural forms, was in demand. As were fluted diffusers with retro charm, such as the "Nebbia" wall and ceiling light by Parkassociati and Delta Light, which is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The "Stellar Dust Collection", originally created by CMC Architects and the designers Václav Mlynář and Jakub Pollág for the J&T Bank in Prague, has now been taken into series production by Bomma. The incisions in the glass, through which the light is diffused into the room, are made using cutting machines developed by the company itself. Sebastian Herkner created the "Petal" collection with the Australian manufacturer Rakumba: thick-walled glass in the shape of petals is given a hand-illustrated natural texture. The luminaire has a gentle aesthetic in terms of both its shape and the refraction of light and looks harmonious both as a stand-alone piece and as part of an ensemble.
In addition to the generous glass sculptures in organic shapes, airy designs were on display: Martinelli Luce presented, for example, the "Canopée" pendant light by Nicolas Verschaeve, whose three cylinders and movable disc can be adjusted in height and angle. The technical, reflective fabric was produced by Serge Ferrari for the nautical industry and is correspondingly robust. The "Fra Tac" incident light by Gianfranco Rollo, whose modules made of lacquered aluminium are equipped with magnetic connections and can therefore be arranged in different compositions, offers maximum flexibility. Those looking for solid materials alongside glass and delicate shapes were only able to find a few: The "Parga" pendant light collection by Cenlitros for a-emotional light is made of granite, while the "Jan" outdoor light by Antonio De Marco for Martinelli Luce is made of concrete and optionally white Carrara marble. Thanks to its rectangular shape, it also serves as a seat. The light shines downwards from an opening in the centre recess.
Meanwhile, the competition for the slimmest version of the track systems was on: iGuzzini presented "Filorail", a wafer-thin version with an opening measuring just 3.6 millimetres, and the integrated hooks are also miniature in size. It can run on horizontal and vertical surfaces, straight or in curves and sets the stage for spotlights such as "Newfo" – a compact re-design of the "UFO" floodlight from 1977. Prolicht also presented the "Just Black" product family, which features lines and curves that are as minimalist as possible, graphically traversing the room and can be fitted with luminaires according to individual requirements. Integration into acoustic panels is also possible. Also to be discovered at the Prolicht stand was "Lullaby", a product family with sound-absorbing acoustic properties by Marc Sadler, whose light beam is controlled by a miniaturised linear louvre reflector. In addition to the designer's "Cloud" compositions, you can create your own ideas from the individual elements in six variants. Jörg Boner's "Glarona" luminaire family for the Swiss brand Schätti is also discreet and has now found its way into the permanent range following the presentation of prototypes last year: The light source is concealed in the round body and provides glare-free, harmonious light emission. A new wall light has been added to the range.
Eden Design introduced "°plug", a modular lighting system made of aluminium tubes by Frits Jeuris, which offers numerous plug & play options and can be mounted on the wall as well as on the ceiling. "°plug" was honoured with the Designplus Award by Light + Building, which Stylepark presented together with Messe Frankfurt. Complex lighting structures can be created and flexibly modified with "Yonos" from Trilux, for example: An aluminium profile with integrated power supply is the core element, which can be fitted with lighting and functional modules as required. Maximum flexibility on the floor is offered by "D-Wave" from Linea Light Group, the first flexible two-axis lighting system that can be adapted to any complex perimeter. The composite material is fully recyclable.
A number of manufacturers are going one step further: Zumtobel presented "Izura", a pendant luminaire with a modular design, whose plastic-free reflector is made of biodegradable biocomposites – set in a sheet steel housing that is not welded and can therefore be replaced if necessary. As part of a co-creation approach, the luminaire can be customised using digital profile printing. Ridi presented a compostable protective transport cap, while IQ Lux presented compostable lampshades made from bio-based PLA using 3D printing. Werner Aisslinger designed the "Dune" series for Baulmann Leuchten made of quartz sand using the 3D printing process: The interlocking spheres are a hybrid of spotlight and atmospheric luminaire, inspired by Pierre Cardin's famous "Palais Bulles", which was created in collaboration with architect Antti Lovag. SG Leuchten presented "Junistar Bio", a recessed spotlight made from biocircular material obtained from waste and residues of biological origin. The idea won the Designplus Award.
Midgard has developed the joints, arms and shades of the "Modular" luminaire series further and, with "Modular Neo", has created two typologies in black and silver that fulfil all requirements for directable light as table, task or floor lamps. For the lampshade, there is a choice between long head versions and an organically shaped version. At the same time, the Brightness Sensor and Motion Detector offer the option of automated lighting control. For an energy-efficient application in industry, Zumtobel displayed "Tecton DC", a direct current luminaire that saves two to four per cent of energy compared to the alternating current model and can be integrated into the local direct current infrastructure. In addition, Zumtobel and Typico set a Guinness World Record at Light + Building: The 202.76 square metre "CIELUMA" illuminated ceiling above the trade fair stand was named the world's "largest continuous illuminated ceiling".
Reduction and retro charm for the luminaires, multifunctionality and the new joy of analogue haptics for the switches: these can again be flat and preferably designed for different uses at the same time – such as for operating blinds, temperature control or sound. For example, in the form of the Gira F100 design line, which offers various functions in addition to a new rocker design with a smaller gap and flatter switching angle. Jung presented the new "A Viva" range with a frame made of satinised glass and showed, alongside other products, that switches can be used to set harmonious accents in healthcare facilities while offering the "LS 990" switch range for emergency call systems in the complete colour selection of Les Couleurs® Le Corbusier. Thanks to the cooperation with FSB, even door handles in matching colours are available. An ode to Berlin and urban art is offered by the "Jung Unique by Graft" switch collection, which has translated the districts of Kreuzberg, Wedding, Friedrichshain, Schöneberg, Mitte and Grunewald into abstract designs – from fingerprints to street art tags. The company is also providing new impetus with regard to circularity: over 50 individual products are C2C certified. Jung is also the first manufacturer in the world to offer C2C-certified KNX products.
Studio Besau Marguerre have designed a new, matt colour selection for the Berker "R.classic" series from Hager and involved the public at Light + Building: Visitors to the stand were able to vote on which of the four variants should be included in the Manufaktur Edition. Hager Manufaktur customises switches, socket outlets, cable ducts and door communication elements in terms of material and colour. The "NS Touch" switch series by Maksym Nikulin for the Smarttech Group consists of an eight-millimetre plate in either artificial stone or metal; the individual labelling of the up to four different remote controls is done using pictograms. The idea was honoured with the Designplus Award. Of course, digital solutions were not forgotten at the same time – with "Gira Eco", for example, electromobility can be integrated into the smart home. Up to five wallboxes from different manufacturers can be integrated into a KNX system and controlled via the Gira Smart Home app or the "Gira G1". In terms of sound, Basalte surprised with a new high-end version of its "Cielo" loudspeaker collection: "Rondo". The round loudspeakers are available in three sizes and are mounted on the wall in a customised number and sequence. Basalte offers a wide range of customisation options: the speakers can be fitted with backlighting, the frame is available in a variety of designs and the fabrics from Gabriel and Kvadrat offer a wide range of options for the upholstery.
Siemens unveiled a new EcoTech product label designed to provide a comprehensive insight into product performance with regard to selected environmental criteria. This enables a direct comparison of the sustainability performance of products with the current market standard and predecessor products. In addition, the Sentron ECPD (Electronic Circuit Protection Device) was presented, which electronically switches off circuit faults and activates the mechanical isolating contact downstream if required. This opens up new possibilities for electrical planning and saves space and energy compared to conventional solutions. "For the first time in the history of protective switching technology, it is possible to utilise several functionalities in one product and to activate them according to the individual requirements of the application or to adapt them if necessary. All this is combined with a semiconductor switching technology that enables up to a thousand times faster, wear-free switching," emphasised Andreas Matthé, CEO of the Electrical Products business unit at Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
Sammode showcased its industrial expertise at Light + Building in cooperation with partner companies Hoffmeister and Sill. The two new tube lights "Leslie X-Heat" and "Joule HT X-Heat", which can withstand chemicals and extreme temperatures of up to 110 degrees Celsius in accordance with the requirements of the processing industry, were also on exhibit. They can be controlled remotely and are easy to install, repair and clean. The XAL Group, with its brands XAL, Wever & Ducré, wästberg and IQ LUX, also bundled its knowledge and focussed on the design status: visitors were able to explore the various possible applications of the products for projects, in some cases using virtual reality glasses. The stand itself was designed with sustainability in mind: parts of previous trade fair appearances such as the kitchen and furniture were reused at Light + Building, while heavily processed materials and refined surfaces were avoided due to the resource-intensive production process. Instead, unprocessed, raw materials such as drywall panels and recycled cardboard were used. Brossier Saderne simply used the transport boxes made of untreated wood for the presentation. Sattler, Schneider Electric, the Zumtobel Group, Inotec Sicherheitstechnik and Midgard were delighted to receive the Designplus Award in the "Sustainable Exhibition Stand" category, which was organised for the first time.
In a conversation at the Design Plaza with architect and university lecturer Prof Amandus Samsøe Sattler, Partner at ensømble Studio Architektur and President of the German Sustainable Building Council, Stylepark delved deeper into the factors that are essential for a sustainable building sector. This also included the top themes of Light + Building: Sustainability, Connectivity and Work + Living. The cosily designed area of the Design Plaza also offered sufficient space for the trend presentation by the bora.herke.palmisano style agency.
A multifaceted comeback at Light + Building that offered the industry opportunities for new synergies and perspectives. The change in direction of the markets in favour of sustainable production and presentation was visible on closer look, especially due to the Designplus Award. It is to be hoped that at the next edition, companies that still rely on concepts from the past will also support the change – for an environmentally and climate-friendly energy future.
Tip: To mark the fortieth anniversary, the two designers, founders and managing directors Jean-Marc da Costa and Manfred Wolf are presenting an exhibition at the Museum Angewandte Kunst entitled "IN SERIEN - 40 years of serien.lighting. Light. Form. Material" retrospective. The show will be on display until 24 March 2024.
