Project summary
Arnout Meijer Studio x UNStudio
18 Septemberplein
Employer: Filippo Lodi, UNStudio
Year: 2018
Skills: Research, Ideation, Collaboration, Visualisation, Pitching
In collaboration with: Arnout Meijer Studio, Filippo Lodi (UNStudio), Amirreza Azadeh (UNStudio)
-
Communicate a proposal to extend the possibilities of the Lightbox for 18 Septemberplein.
-
A pitch to Arnout Meijer, lighting designer, around using people's movement in the square to inform the lighting.
In collaboration with Arnout Meijer, we aimed to extend the artistic vision of the permanent light installation, focussing on the experience for residents and shoppers of this prominent square in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
This city is known for hosting companies such as Philips and events such as the Dutch Design Week, as well as being known as ‘The City of Light’. Within this cultural context, we wanted to create an experience for passers-by, that would celebrate its identity and make the residents feel more safe, welcomed and inspired. Enhancing their mood, sense of security and curiosity.
Adaptive lighting
A permanent light installation consisting of four glass windows, suspend on the facade of the building, a visual effect developed by Arnout Meijer Studio, where light subtly changes depending on the time of the day and the movement of passers-by.
Our proposal started with this idea that light has artistic value for public spaces such as 18 Septemberplein. In a bid to add an adaptive element to Arnout Meijer’s designs, we proposed the following opportunities. Adaptive lighting that breathes in the space, evokes nature, evolves and is emotionally in tune.
Breathing
Subtle design that blends well into the background. Concept of giving the light boxes more presence, empathy and natural elements.
Artificial Nature
Concept of presenting the light boxes as included in the location, a living entity within the plaza that adapts, and accommodates its surrounding as nature would.
Evolving
The light boxes, to stay relevant, need to be present and conscious to learn from the environment and accommodate the plaza’s different functions.
Emotional
Concept of filling the void we create a sense of security. Light can create an illusion of more space and vice versa to fill the empty space and evoke a density.
Our proposal to add sensors to create adaptive lighting effects was not fully taken on. However its core idea, of linking the perception of the light boxes to people’s movement and time of day in the square, lives on.