LICHT KUNST LICHT

ThyssenKrupp is a global materials and technology group with some 173,000 employees, best known for steel technology and escalators. On its historical site within Essen’s “Krupp Belt” the ThyssenKrupp group consolidated all head offices on one campus.

Grouped around a central linear water basin are the main building Q1, the Q2 Forum, the administration buildings Q5 and Q7 as well as a parking garage.

Nearly half of the materials and products used for its construction originate from the client company itself. Grouped in a park landscape the airiness of the buildings is largely based on their façade concept.

The exterior impression of the buildings results from the continuous principle of a superposition of shell and core. Metal meshes, perforated sheet metal, sun protection lamellae and large format coloured plain sheet metal characterise the surfaces outside and inside the buildings. The variable nature of daylight modulates this mix of transparent, perforated and solid layers.

A finely tuned lighting concept ensures that this stylistic tool is also fully functional in the evening and at night. Its allure largely originates from the building illumination emanating from within and the sensitively adjusted exterior lighting.

Following the architectural masterplan, an overall lighting scheme comprises the park and all buildings with consideration of their individual purposes. Visual comfort is a major objective also for the exterior lighting. Glary light points are being avoided by strongly shielded luminaires with a bespoke light distribution. Pole mounted luminaires are enqueued with the trees of the main paths along the water basin, bollards flank the smaller trails. Concealed LED strips outline the water edge.
The design leitmotif of voids cut out of a solid cube is most apparent at the Q1 Headquarter building. The interior cutting surfaces are clad with high-quality metal sheets and illuminated by fully integrated uplights and downlights. This also creates a sense of spatial depth and an impressive nocturnal appearance of the building.

The Casino and the staff cafeteria in the Q2 Forum building feature custom-designed pendant luminaires which pick up the aspect of steel in a surprisingly pleasant fashion. In the “Room of Tranquillity” a cube with a colour-changing LED ceiling showcases the titanium wall cladding.

Energy efficiency is key for all lighting solutions at the Quarter. Daylight sensors and controllable shading louvres, presence detectors and high-efficacy lamps contribute to enormous energy savings.