From 11 to 16 April 2010, the Lighting Culture Biennale
will be taking place already for the fifth time in Frankfurt, as a side event to Light and Building. Following the call of the Luminale, some 150 artists, designers, architects and engineers have been turning museums, galleries, industrial buildings, construction sites, monuments, facades, squares and parks into an international
lighting laboratory, which will remain in place for the duration of the trade fair. Zumtobel is sponsoring two exciting projects on the subjects of quality of light and innovative light design.

Hive

The interactive ‘Hive’ lighting installation was born from a collaboration between the Mainz University of Applied Sciences and Zumtobel. Students of interior and communication design have created a fascinating LED lighting swarm revolving around the subject of water and nature. Above the pond of the wall structures in downtown
Frankfurt, the vibrant hive swarm awaits visitors to cast its spell on them. With dimensions of 12m x 6m x 4m, the intelligent design of hive incorporates 1,600 individually controllable Capix LED luminaires.

The colours and sound produced by the video-compatible LED luminaires make the lighting installation come alive. Its lighting points are individually controlled, and animated as a system responding to itself. Via an interface panel, visitors can interact with ‘Hive’, making the lighting swarm change continuously.

Using luminaires by spacecannon, the interface panel is backlit by dynamic colour sequences. In the context of the project, a special light diffuser was developed for the Capix LED luminaires. Once the Luminale has closed its
doors, the University of Applied Sciences will use the LED system for teaching and research activities.

Photosynthese

In collaboration with the JKLD lighting design studio, Zumtobel is sponsoring the lighting installation ‘Photosynthese’ at Frankfurt’s Palmengarten. During the Luminale, the fascinating installation ‘Photosynthese’ will visualise the production of energy enriched materials by light energy. Eight Aphrodite LED spotlights by spacecannon, a company of the Zumtobel brand, highlight nature with its ever new phenomena
and rhythms. Multidimensional light seems to be emitted from the reflectors of the spotlights, creating lighting scenes that provide a harmonious variety of light and a thoroughly pleasant room effect.

Aphrodite is a fascinating biorhythm spotlight developed in collaboration with designer Nik Schweiger. Via an internal control system, six LEDs allow for ever changing
colour sequences and effects.