Once again, L&L Luce&Light fixtures have been chosen, this time to illuminate the façade of the Bergen Børs Hotel in the Norwegian city of Bergen. Originally housing the old stock exchange, the building, which dates back to 1862, was recently renovated by the renowned Swedish architecture and design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune, while the lighting project was developed by the Norwegian lighting design studio Zenisk. Given the building’s historical significance, and the fact that it is a major landmark in the city, the work of lighting its façade was of primary importance.
Bergen is a rainy city, and the natural light is often diffused through the clouds to envelop its buildings in grey. However, on sunny days the façades of the buildings reveal an eye-catching chromatic composition. The lighting project was therefore aimed at reproducing the façade's colours as if it were lit by sunlight, even on dull days.
In addition to this, the idea was that it should not be obvious at first sight that the building is a hotel, and that passers-by should be attracted by the masterly warm lighting that underlines the uniqueness of the façade, perfectly integrated into its urban setting.
The Bergen Børs Hotel overlooks a square surrounded by three other historic buildings. The façade lighting is a vertical gesture that strengthens the three-dimensional perception of the space and, at the same time, helps produce a comforting sense of security and spatial orientation.
Working in close collaboration with the architects and the client – De Bergenske, who own several luxury hotels in the city – the lighting designers have created an extremely elegant solution that highlights the contrasts in the materials and architectural elements, and perfectly reflects the hotel's refined interiors. Rather than completely light the entire façade, they have created a careful composition of horizontal and vertical elements so that the shape and volume of the building are easily recognizable. An intelligent use of light and shade ensures that, at night, the building is perceived as an organic whole whose entire outline has been redesigned.
Zenisk chose L&L products for the façade because they offer the perfect solution in terms of compact dimensions, precision optics and quality of light. As this is a historical building, the fixtures’ presence in the façade must be pared back and minimally intrusive. In addition, the use of precision optics substantially reduces light spill.
A mix of L&L devices was used to light the different architectural elements: powerful linear profiles – Neva (3000K, 25W, 12°x40°, 616 mm) and Neva Mini (3000K, 9W, 12°x 40°) – were used to foreground the surfaces of the vertical pillars, horizontal frames and exposed red bricks.
At the same time, Trevi linear profiles (3000K, 6W, 313 mm) have the function of completing and harmonising the light intensity. For the gable in relief above the main entrance, the frames above the windows and to outline the columns, Zenisk used Spot projectors (1.0 // 3000K, 2W, 20°), which produce a contrasting light, throwing these elements into relief to theatrical effect.
“We were looking for compact and reliable products capable of precisely highlighting the historical façades while integrating perfectly in them,” said Zenisk.
