Rama Mendelsohn
“I think most people like to stand out, no matter what they do, but especially in a creative field where there is too much competition to be unique. For me, my hope is that when people enter a location which I have illuminated through my design, they feel a sense of peace, comforted and happy.”
This is the philosophy lighting designer Rama Mendelsohn has maintained throughout her career and undoubtedly achieved.
Setting out on a path as a child in the direction of becoming a doctor, specifically an aspiring cardiologist, Mendelsohn consistently proved she was a bright student. As she progressed through her education, slowly but surely she was turning her interests into a more creative direction, and ended up at The College of Management (Israel), School of Interior Design where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. This spark in design for Mendelsohn then took her on an international journey to America where she pursued a Masters in Fine Arts from The New York School of Interior Design in New York City.
“At that time, I won a student award in lighting design. It was then that I realised I had a passion for the way light transformed spaces,” recalls Mendelsohn.
After receiving her Masters in New York, she returned home to Israel to begin working in the industry as soon as she could. This is exactly what she did in 2004 when she joined RTLD Lighting Design in Tel Aviv. Here she worked as a lighting designer for public, commercial and private projects both domestic and international. Within this position for over four and a half years, she gained valuable experience in leading and directing projects from the concept development stages all the way through to client liaisons, technical specifications for lighting products, overseeing of installations and establishing professional relationships with owners, clients, architects, designers, electrical engineers and suppliers – all of whom provided essential contacts for moving forward in her career and ultimately for when she established her own design firm.
When studying the past of any architect or designer, most people would comfortably admit there is usually one project or one iconic building that put that designer firmly on the map in the industry.
For Mendelsohn, she fondly reflects upon her time at this lighting design firm providing her that pivotal moment for her career. “When I worked at the lighting design company following graduation, I had the privilege of working on the Design Museum in Holon in Israel, with leading architect Ron Arad.” Working as a snowball effect from there, Mendelsohn continued to explain how this connection followed her all the way through to when she had set up her own business. “Six months into starting my own business, Ron contacted me directly to work with him on a luxury boutique residential building in Tel Aviv, located on the sea. Then, shortly after that, another architect I had worked with in the past offered me the opportunity to develop the lighting design plan for a hotel in Cervinia, Italy. Upon completion of that project, I began to be contacted for larger and more prestigious projects across Israel and Europe.” So as well as obvious skill and talent, it also proves that contacts within the industry are key to success. Mendelsohn is clearly a natural at both design and establishing lasting relationships within her field as she was only working for another firm for four and a half years before branching off to build her own design company – a feat that sometimes can take decades for established designers to achieve.
When taking on a new project, it is important to grasp a full understanding of the location, environment and tone of the place the client desires. Mendelsohn explains how she approaches her projects and goes about providing the attention to detail that her back catalogue of designs flaunt: “With each project, I take into careful consideration the overall look and feel of the location, and allow the lighting to follow. I spend a lot of time researching and exploring design element options for each project, and analyse the way each fixture will look from all angles. The lighting needs to complement the architecture and design of the project. To me, no matter how big or small the project, I approach each opportunity with the same level of professionalism and dedication.”
In 2017, she won the award for Lighting Design in the ‘Israeli Design Awards’ for her work in the high-end Herbert Samuel residential complex. These awards recognise excellence in achievements across many design fields including architecture, interior design and lighting design. Comprised of some of the most valuable real estate in Tel Aviv, Mendelsohn graced these 250sqm luxury apartments with lighting fit for a king. Mendelsohn’s aim was to design a lighting concept that would mimic the sparkling Mediterranean Sea that the apartment blocks look out onto from their $38,800 per sqm balconies. She achieved this through meticulous backlighting of the CNC materials throughout the building in order to emphasise and create textures with light.
One of the key relationships Mendelsohn has established in recent years is with LED Linear, whilst working on the Asruf Panoramic project. “I created the lighting design for the façade of the building, the lobby, indoor and outdoor public space, as well as the surrounding streets,” describes Mendelsohn. “The goal was to achieve a calming effect through the lighting design. This was a challenge due to the encapsulation of the LED lights, which typically increases the colour temperature, making it a more harsh light. At the same time, the C5M requirements (high salinity in the air, humidity, weather corrosion, UV exposure etc.) needed to be taken into consideration, due to the project’s proximity to the sea.”
Choosing to work with LED Linear’s VarioLED Flex VENUS fixture for the Panorama allowed Mendelsohn the flexibility with the arch shaped design as well as fulfilling the C5M requirements. It creates a softer light than the harshness you might usually find with LEDs as a result of the encapsulation of the lights.
Working with light is a very fluid process especially when interchanging between natural and artificial light. Mendelsohn discovered the challenges that came with this divide between light types when working in different geographical locations. She describes her approaches: “It depends largely on the location of the project. For instance, the natural daylight in Israel is brighter than Europe. Therefore, you don’t want someone to walk indoors and feel as though they are entering a dark space. I’ve learned that I need to strengthen the indoor lighting to balance out the natural light outdoors when in Israel.”
Mendelsohn describes light as breathing life into a project that cannot be obtained otherwise, and can create different experiences within buildings, restaurants or landscapes depending on the lighting scheme used.
Where does she see light going in the future and how it is changing over the years? Well, the biggest change, one that we have recognised in the industry as well, is that of the growth and development of LED technology. “It has helped to decrease the size of fixtures, thereby providing more options for a variety of projects. While halogen lighting was often the first choice for designers, due to the colour spectrum they provide, I believe LED will continue to grow in popularity across the industry.”
In the lighting world, it is also becoming more prominent that lighting designers are being recognised as vital roles within the design process of architecture, and designers are absolutely being taken more seriously – a first hand example is Mendelsohn herself.
When asked, upon reflection, Mendelsohn claims her most memorable project is the Edmund Rothschild Foundation Building in Tel Aviv. It is a historic building with very strict preservation requirements for lighting installations. She describes the restrictions the team had to work with and the specifications they had to adhere to in order to create the final look in accordance to the preservations: “I was invited by Plesner Architects to create the lighting design plan for the project, and worked alongside Baroness Rothschild’s interior designer. It’s a landmark building, so the requirements are set by the city’s preservation society. A certain percentage of the light fixtures needed to be reminiscent of the original lighting of the building, and the light temperature needed to be warm white, not cool white. These requirements presented an opportunity to blend the old and the new. The project was completed in 2015.”
Since working with RTLD Lighting Design firm until 2009, Mendelsohn has grown and developed into a fantastic lighting designer and now has the privilege of running her own business, which she does with the help of one other designer by her side.
The dynamic duo spends most of their time outside of the office and on site with projects or meeting up with architects to germinate new ones.
What advice would she give to any aspiring lighting designers? “Be prepared to be fully engaged and committed to the job and the industry (even if it means you have no life for a while). The more people you meet, the more projects you work on (no matter how big or small), the more conferences you attend, the more you will learn and grow, even if you don’t realise it’s happening at the time.”
Mendelsohn is a prime example of hard work and talent, and an excellent role model for young designers to look towards for inspiration. Particularly as a leading female designer in what can be, at times, a very male dominated industry. Keep an eye out for new projects on the horizon and maybe we will see her work across the seas in New York, where she dreams of taking the next step to broaden her career.
University of Wismar and Wings Lighting Design add to Master's programme
(Germany) – The Architectural Lighting and Design Management Master’s programme now includes a specialisation in ‘Heritage Lighting’.
The University of Wismar, alongside Wings Lighting Design, has added increased specialisation to its Architectural Lighting and Design Management Master’s programme.
The ‘Architectural Lighting and Design Management’ programme is a design-based Master’s in lighting design for students and professionals from interior design, architecture, exhibitions and theatre as well as electrical, environmental psychology backgrounds.
The combination of ‘Lighting Design’ and ‘Design Management’ provides students with the creative and technical knowledge to manage lighting design projects as well as the economic and marketing aspects necessary to manage offices professionally.
Starting in September 2017, Wings Lighting Design and the University of Wismar will be offering a specialisation in ‘Heritage Lighting’ to interested students. The specialisation will offer students the possibility to delve deeper into issues like lighting for heritage sites and buildings, lighting for protected sites, conservation, techniques and strategies for such sites and so on. This specialisation is part of a long-term plan to introduce similar specialisations in the field of ‘light’.
The professional study programme ‘Architectural Lighting and Design Management’ was started in September 2012 and is based on more than 15 years of experience in teaching the Master’s programme for Lighting Design in the Wismar University. The faculty includes some of the most experienced and renowned lighting designer and management experts from around the world, and the programme has been awarded the PLDR Award in the category Education by an international jury of lighting designers and have received the proof of accreditation for the study programme.
www.wings-lightingdesign.com
www.hs-wismar.de
Reflexion wins Lighting Designer of the Year in German awards
(Germany) – The German Lighting Designer Awards celebrate the best in German lighting design, with Reflexion AG winning the overall Lighting Designer of the Year award.
Reflexion AG has won Lighting Designer of the Year at the German Lighting Designer Awards, having gained four nominations and three awards at the event.
The Lighting Designer of the Year award is a jury-based award presented each year by the independent German Lighting Design Award authority to an outstanding design office on the basis of a strict and transparent points system in the individual categories.
Members of the voluntary jury include university lecturers, representatives of the press and industry associations and – for each of the past three years – a designer from the previous year’s winning team. Guest jurors for the 2017 German Lighting Design Award were Peter Andres and his team.
Fourteen winners were announced out of 33 nominations and 120 submissions. Alongside Lighting Designer of the Year, Zürich-based Reflexion AG won awards in the International Project, Shop and Events & Fairs categories for the Collection Lambert in Avignon, the St. Jodern wine cellars in Visperterminen, and the Swiss National Bank respectively.
This is the second time that Reflexion AG has taken part in the competition. In 2016 it was a winner in the Traffic Buildings category with its lighting concept for the underground railway station at Löwenstrasse in Zürich. The office employs 25 architects, interior designers, lighting designers and electrical engineers, all engaged in developing interdisciplinary concepts for an extremely wide variety of lighting requirements.
Lightvision of Berlin won the Innovation Award for a lighting concept for a windowless bunker, realised in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute, while the lighting concept for the Hotel Adlon lobby in Berlin won the Hotel/Gastronomy category.
Elsewhere, Licht Kunst Licht picked up the Outdoor Lighting award for its urban space lighting solution around the Berlin TV Tower. The concept takes account of the high use levels of the square by a wide range of groups by giving various areas different lighting atmospheres.
Winners in the other categories were:
- Office and Administration: Atrium Tower Berlin, by Kardoff Ingenieure Lichtplanung
- Cultural: Montforthaus Feldkirch, by Light Design Engineering Belzner Holmes
- Public Areas/Interior: Hamburg Heights by Teamlicht
- Museums: Museum Himmlisches Theatre, Stift Neuzelle, by Konzeptlicht lighting solutions
- Productions: Club House St. Pauli, Hamburg, by Bartenbach
- Light Art: Mehr Los – A Line of Light, by Mortiz Gieselmann
The awards were presented in the Trafowerk in Mannheim, Germany before an audience of almost 500 guests including designers, the light industry and clients. For the first time this year, an honorary award was presented to Prof. Dr.-Ing Heinrich Kramer, for his contributions in the field of lighting design.
InterLumi Panama succeeds again with second show
(Latin America) - New Records Achieved at the 2nd Edition of InterLumi Panama 2017
InterLumi Panama Lighting and Led trading show in Latin America has achieved a wondrous second year of exhibiting between 29 June and 1 July, at ATLAPA Convention Centre.
Reaching record heights in numbers of attendees with 151 exhibiting brands from 21 countries, the showcasing of cutting-edge products and technologies in efficient lighting brought in 2,172 visitors from 28 global countries. In terms of exhibitors, there was a 25% increase in companies lighting up the emerging market.
Ms. Estherlin Pérez, Sales Executive and Lighting Designer of HP Winner commented: "It is a good platform to meet people from lighting industry and this is our main interest. We came here again because we had satisfactory results at last year's show. Now we are here again with more expectations and hopefully can receive feedback as good as last year."
One notable example is ATP Lighting, who returned with local distributer Sirenergy, and enlarged their booth space by more than twice this year. Mr Guillermo Redrado, Vice President of ATP Lighting said: "It’s a fair where we always have high hopes. We see that there are several interesting companies, and what we want is to be able to showcase to Panamanian market the new products that we have brought."
FD Center appeared as new exhibitors this year and received positive feedback from their visitors. Mr Victor Cachafeiro Sergent spoke highly of it: "It is a fair perfectly organized from all points of view. The level of excellence has risen in reference to the previous edition. It serves the Panamanian and Latin American market to unify trends in relation to lighting and also lighting applications with a different approach that could be estimated according to client needs. It has been an amazing idea that each exhibitor has the opportunity to interact with buyers brought from abroad. I have noticed that several international delegations came. We will make good use of this opportunity to inform them the innovative products that we have brought to InterLumi Panama."
As one of two focul points for the trade show, InterLumi Panama 2017 launched the Match-Making program over the first two days. Pre-selected purchasers from selected groups from Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua Peru and Venezuela joined the program with the purpose of implementing new projects and finding potential partners. Over 100 sessions of face-to-face meetings were scheduled and both exhibitors and buyers gave their raving reviews.
"I think it’s an excellent program actually. We have had several meetings at a very good level and found important purchasing needs from the visitors," commented by Mr. Omar González from SELS (SMART ERA LIGHTING SYSTEMS).
"It is a good initiative and it is not found in other trade shows we have participated in worldwide." disclosed by French exhibitor Mr. Pascal Fouineau, Executive Sales Export of Fonroche Lighting. "The system is really fantastic because before the trade fair starts, we know that we can find potential customers who are interested in our products."
Mr. Juan Gómez from CMI (Corporación Multi Inversiones) Guatemala also added "Through the program I did find contacts and I even found some products that may be of interest, which is hydroelectric plants. It is also one of the company's main business and, for us, it is pretty productive."
Efficient Lighting Forum – Central America is seeing its second edition as the highly popular event of InterLumi Panama with a stong lineup of eleven experts from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Spain discussed 4 topics in vogue, namely Smart Lighting & IoT, Lighting Trends, Renewable Energy and Efficient Lighting Design. Bringing the show to a climax was a panel discussion after each session and interaction between speakers and the audience.
"I am so delighted to share our research and more than impressed to see this event. I know this is only the second edition of the event. But this is really a showcase of the world here in Panama, for not just this country but for the region. So, it has been a very pleasant surprise to see the high quality of delegates and exhibitors as well as the great presenters I met at the forum. I am learning as much as I am sharing." Mr. Ronald J. Zimmer, President & CEO of CABA (Continental Automated Buildings Association) expressed after his presentation at the forum.
Mr. Héctor Castillo, Project Leader of Grupo Salinas also shared his opinion from the perspective of being a forum attendee. "The forum themes are very complete and the professionals indicated very necessary technical aspects for the projects. We will bring the useful information back to Guatemala."
The success of this unique Panama trade show cannot be acclaimed without thanks given to the strategic partners who have provided constant support. "There are many products that can meet the needs of any visitor. Participants could have a comprehensive overview of the latest development of lighting industry in the global range. In regards to forum, it is also a must-see event on every edition. It is systematically managed and there are many ideas coming out of the forum that can be discussed further." said Mr. Rubén Omar Sánchez, President of Argentine Association of Lighting (AADL by its initials in Spanish).
"The market of efficient lighting is booming and we are on the right track to grow stronger day by day." stated Ms. Annie Hernández, Executive Director of Guatemalan Association of Lighting (AGI by its initials in Spanish). "We are considering how AGI and InterLumi can work together to strengthen the alliance throughout the region."
The third edition of InterLumi Panama will commence of 11 July to 13 July 2018.
Nordeon Group strengthens leadership foundations
(Netherlands) – As Nordeon Group consolidates its position in the market, it has appointed Louis van Uden as CEO, and established an advisory counsel.
The Nordeon Group has further strengthened its leadership foundation. Within just four years, Nordeon Group has developed itself into a full service, diverse global lighting company, operating at the forefront of technology, development, design, and services. With its brands, Griven, Hess, Vulkan, Lamp Lighting, Schmitz, WILA and Nordeon, it caters to a wide range of lighting requirements.
To consolidate this dynamic development, both at a strategic and operative level, and to continue to strengthen its market position, the Nordeon Group is arranging its management team.
Patrick van Rossum, Chairman of the Nordeon Group, commented: "Over the past four years, Nordeon Group, under Pierre van Lamsweerde's leadership, has done a tremendous job in establishing itself as a world class professional lighting company. To take the business to the next level, we have decided to further strengthen the Group's leadership structure."
Part of this has been the appointment of Louis van Uden as CEO as of July 1st 2017 replacing Pierre. Van Rossum continued: "Louis van Uden has been instrumental in re-establishing Vulkan as a leading outdoor urban area lighting business. Following this, he has revitalised Hess in its home markets and restored it to its former glory as one of the world’s leading decorative outdoor lighting companies. With a proven track record, he is the perfect fit for this role."
To further support the Group's leadership team in setting its strategic agenda Nordeon Group has appointed an advisory counsel, recruiting Doug Herst as its first member. Herst developed US-based Peerless Lighting into a leader in the specification market for architectural indoor lighting before selling his family business to Acuity Brands. He has a strong affiliation for technology, and amongst others, Doug sits on the board of Lumenetix.
Herst will be joined by former Nordeon Group CEO Pierre van Lamsweerde.
New CEO for Helvar
(Finland) – Adel Hattab will join Helvar as new CEO from September 1st.
Helvar’s Board of Directors has appointed Adel Hattab as new Chief Executive Officer.
Hattab will commence in his new position on September 1st, 2017. His professional experience spans several industries and covers different leadership roles in global companies, across the value chain. He joins Helvar from Outotec where he has been responsible for Strategic Customers and Business Development and a member of the Executive Board. He has deep knowledge of digital transition from past positions with Nokia as well as Metso Automation.
Hattab holds an MSc in Engineering from the Helsinki University of Technology, as well as a MBA from the Helsinki School of Economics and MIT Sloan School of Business.
“Adel has deep experience in the digital economy from various aspects, and has lead several businesses successfully. Helvar is a leader in a very exciting industry going through a digital transformation, and I am confident that he has what it takes to be successful in his new position," said Helvar’s Chairman of the Board, Kai Öistämö.
"I am very excited to join Helvar, a company that is well known within the industry. I am impressed and inspired by the Helvar team and the opportunities that lie ahead. I recognise that the transition of the lighting Industry provides great growth potential for the company. I look forward to working with the entire Helvar team, our customers and partners", added Hattab.
As previously announced, Helvar’s current CEO Hans Henrik Lund will join Nilfisk as CEO. "Under the past year of Hans Henrik’s leadership, Helvar has gone through a major transition. It is now one of the leading companies Intelligent Lighting. Hans Henrik leaves a solid foundation for Helvar to build on. On behalf of the whole Board, I thank Hans Henrik for his great contribution to the company", continued Kai Öistämö.
Illuminate Lighting Design launch new San Francisco Studio
(USA) – The new San Francisco office is the second in North America and ninth studio globally for the company.
Illuminate Lighting Design, an award-winning international architectural lighting design consultancy and a division of the world’s leading hospitality interior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), celebrated the opening of its new San Francisco studio this month.
The newly minted office builds on Illuminate’s already strong Bay Area presence and a recent win at the prestigious Illumination Engineering Society (IES)’s Illumination Merit Award for their work on BCCI Construction Company project on Battery Street in San Francisco.
“Illuminate complements the work of designers and architects by shaping the perception and experience of a space through the playful use of both natural and electric light,” said Nick Albert, Director of Illuminate. “Our continued growth and success in the US has driven the need for a second office to serve our clients stateside through a combination of local support and unparalleled global resources.”
This is the second studio in North America for Illuminate after Los Angeles, and its ninth globally. Established in 2009, Illuminate Lighting Design creates bespoke lighting schemes for renowned projects around the world.
Illuminate’s projects include LEED, Title 24, WELL and other energy efficient strategies as well as advanced lighting and daylight control systems and the application of media integrated lighting. The team aims to create spaces that can excite and inspire, as well as provide critical functionality and comfort for those who work, live and play within.
HNC AND HND QUALIFICATIONS IN LIGHTING TO BE TAUGHT IN UK
(UK) – A partnership between the Lighting Industry Association and the University of South Wales will see a Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma in lighting being taught in the UK for the first time.
This September will see the first ever Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in lighting being taught in the UK through the Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and the University of South Wales (USW).
The LIA announced its partnership with USW in July last year, with an aim to provide new opportunities for collaboration in both teaching and learning.
The introduction of a HNC and HND in Lighting Design and Technology will provide the first qualifications at this level in the UK to attract new talent and develop existing careers within the lighting industry.
The courses will be delivered between the LIA Academy in Telford and the USW campus in Pontypridd, recognising the state of the art facilities at both sites. Modules delivered at the Academy in Telford will be led by the LIA’s established team of expert tutors, who have all gained ‘Recognised Teacher Status’ from USW.
The HNC and HND are composed of modules covering the following subjects:
- Lighting Fundamentals (HNC/HND)
- Electrical Principles & Design (HNC/HND)
- Light Sources & Luminaire Design (HNC/HND)
- Lighting Design (HNC/HND)
- Lighting Project Specification (HNC/HND)
- Singleton Project (HNC/HND)
- Advanced Lighting Principles (HND)
- Component and Product Design (HND)
- Exterior Lighting (HND)
- Highway Lighting (HND)
- Interior Lighting (HND)
- Work Based Project (HND)
Upon successful completion of the HND course, the students will have the opportunity to progress to a full BSc (Hons) Lighting Design and Technology at USW.
Students can enrol to take the courses in either a full-time or part-time capacity, whether taking their first steps into lighting or aiming to strengthen and develop their existing career. These qualifications cater for all abilities and offer a natural career pathway.
Stuart Green, Course Leader of Lighting and Design Technology at USW, said: “The introduction of these qualifications provides a new pathway for individuals already working in the industry to strengthen and cement their learning, as well as offering a way into the lighting industry for new talent. Our partnership with the LIA enables us to combine our knowledge to co-ordinate development opportunities for lighting professionals.”
LIA CEO, Steve Davies added: “The courses delivered by the Lighting Industry Academy meet the exacting quality and academic standards expected from a partnership with a major UK university, for such highly respected and recognised qualifications.
“As one of the very few of their kind in the UK, these industry specific, academically recognised qualifications create a cornerstone in the development of the lighting community’s bright and exciting future.”
BLUETOOTH SIG ANNOUNCES MESH NETWORKING CAPABILITY
(USA) – Bluetooth technology will now support mesh networking, a new capability optimised for creating large-scale device networks, ideally suited for building automation, sensor networks and other IoT solutions.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has announced that Bluetooth technology now supports mesh networking. The new mesh capability enables many-to-many (m:m) device communications and is optimised for creating large-scale device networks. It is ideally suited for building automation, sensor networks and other IoT solutions where tens, hundreds, or thousands of devices need to reliably and securely communicate with one another.
“By adding support for mesh networking, the Bluetooth member community is continuing a long history of focused innovation to help new, up-and-coming markets flourish,” said Mark Powell, executive director for Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
“In the same way the connected device market experienced rapid growth after the introduction of Bluetooth Low Energy, we believe Bluetooth mesh networking can play a vital role in helping early stage markets, such as building automation and wireless sensor networks, experience more rapid growth.”
Time and time again it has been shown that markets flourish when multi-vendor interoperability exists. Bluetooth mesh delivers proven, global interoperability that assures products from different vendors work together.
“Multi-vendor interoperability is a major factor in determining how fast markets develop,” said Russ Sharer, VP Global Marketing and Business Development at Fulham. “Fulham is excited to finally see a wireless, multi-vendor, interoperable standard for lighting controls and we believe Bluetooth mesh networking will greatly expand the size and functionality of the market.”
“Within the building automation market, there is a growing focus on connected lighting and the role it can play as a platform for providing automation services throughout a facility,” added Szymon Slupik, President and CTO of Silvair and Chairman of the mesh working group within the Bluetooth SIG.
“A smart lighting platform built on top of Bluetooth mesh networking can also support asset tracking, point of interest, and way-finding services. These value-added capabilities are part of why we believe Bluetooth is an ideal technology for enabling a mesh network.”
The Bluetooth mesh networking specifications, as well as the tools required to qualify Bluetooth products with mesh networking support, are now available at the Bluetooth website. Bluetooth mesh networking operates on Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and is compatible with core specification version 4.0 and higher.
GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL LIGHTING EXHIBITION 2017 WELCOMES RECORD NUMBER OF GLOBAL VISITORS
(China) – A record number of visitors attended the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition, held over four days from 9th-12th June.
The 22nd edition of the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) welcomed a record number of visitors for the four-day fair during which key industry players had the chance to explore the convergent future of the lighting industry.
The fair maintained its position as an influential and comprehensive lighting and LED event by receiving strong industry support. The fair welcomed 156,898 visitors – an increase of over 8% from last year’s exhibition – from 134 countries and regions.
The trade fair spanned 17 halls of the China Import and Export Fair Complex including a total of 2,428 exhibitors. The exhibition was segmented into three sections; production, technology and applications. These sections covered the entire industry spectrum from components and materials to packaging and implementation. The show’s 180,000sqm of floors were abuzz with visitors, cutting-edge products and talks by experts in the lighting community.
Regarding this year’s show, Ms Lucia Wong, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd, commented: “The convergence of lighting with different technologies is a defining factor for the achievement of GILE 2017. I am sincerely grateful for the global lighting community’s support in demonstrating the diverse application of core lighting technology beyond illumination.
“Unrelenting innovation and the exchange of market intelligence are vital for progression. We will continue with our efforts to link up technological innovation, lighting design and sales channels into a platform for the lighting industry to network and achieve its business objectives.”
The convergence of lighting with state-of-the-art designs and technologies was prevalent in every aspect of the 2017 fair. Fixtures such as panel lights, linear lights and hidden lighting have moved into the mainstream. Concepts like smart control, programmable lights, anti-glare, super slim and frameless designs are the in-demand products for this year.
Ms Lucia Wong added: “The lighting industry is evolving with opportunities abound. The creation of lighting solutions is a joint effort in the industry, which requires the support of a number players, including planners, designers and manufacturers. Otherwise, these concepts will never be made into reality. GILE will always continue to support these innovations in the industry.”
www.guangzhou-international-lighting-exhibition.hk.messefrankfurt.com
ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS TO PRESENT LIGHT MAPPING PROJECTION AT SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE FESTIVAL
(Germany) – Zaha Hadid Architects have created a mapping projection to be displayed on the 170-metre façade of Karlsruhe’s Baroque castle.
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has collaborated with leading digital artists and computer science researchers Andy Lomas and Mubbasir Kapadia, together with musician Max Cooper to create a mapping projection for the 2017 Schlosslichtspiele Festival titled ‘Behaviour Morphe’.
The Schlosslichtspiele Festival in Karlsruhe, Germany presents a programme of spectacular light mapping projections on the 170-metre façade of the city’s Baroque castle.
Exploring new forms of architecture, the 2017 Schlosslichtspiele connects digital spatial concepts with the 18th century masonry of the castle to research how living spaces can be designed in the future.
ZHA’s projection showcases the latest digital spatial simulation tools the practice applies in the comprehensive analysis and planning of its architecture, and looks further ahead to concepts of spatial design of the future.
The projection on the castle’s façade reveals its interiors as digital laboratories of human behavioural simulation, demonstrating the circulation and congregation of digital actors programmed with artificial intelligence that interact with the spaces of the castle and each other.
Patrik Schumacher, ZHA principal, explained: “Dynamic new virtual spaces are defined by using real-time data to interpret the virtual actors’ interactions. These digital spaces are then explored with iterative growth systems that emulate the evolutionary process of nature, demonstrating the potential of metamorphic simulations and digital morphogenetics.
"As an architectural interpretation, the projection outlines ZHA’s Computational Design (CODE) research group’s work in these iterative systems of development."
Other architects presenting at this year’s festival include Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture, as well as Greg Lynn.
The Schlosslichtspiele Festival in Karlsruhe, Germany opens on 3rd August until 10th September 2017.
DARKHORSE LIGHTWORKS CERTIFIED AS A WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
(USA) - Dark Horse Lightworks Certified By the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
Architectural lighting design firm Dark Horse, based in Los Angeles, California, has announced its national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise, by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council – West (WNENC).
Dawn Hollingsworth, Principal of Darkhorse Lightworks, stated: “This recognition is important for our clients and vendors to know we are part of a larger network of businesses with a diversified work environment and we are excited about the opportunities this opens for our business.”
This certification is a meticulous process and has to include in-depth reviews of the business and site inspections. Thus, to qualify for this title, the company must pass rigorous searches and testing is to ensure the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.
Corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitments to the continued development of diversity by including women-owned businesses among their own suppliers.
