Revista sobre projetos luminotécnicos e produtos de iluminação da fabricante ERCO. Edição 85.

1. Lichtbericht 85
E
Published in April 2008
China rightful occupant of the dragon
To the Chinese, the dragon is any- throne. Today, we are fascinated
thing but the bloodthirsty beast by China because of its economic
featured in European fairytales. It dynamism, its many contrasts and
is a divine mythical creature that its vast cultural treasures, an exten-
brings with it ultimate abundance, sive and exciting working environ-
prosperity and good fortune. Its ment for designers, architects and
five-toed variant as depicted in providers of high-quality lighting
this woodcarving from the Palace solutions.
Museum in Beijing's ”Forbidden
City“ symbolised the Emperor as the

2. Contents About this issue
Introduction Light & Technology
About this issue Originally, we had had the idea of devoting an result is a modern yet traditional piece of archi-
1
entire Lichtbericht to Asia, with an overview of tecture. An architecture that conjoins ancient
Keylights
2
the different countries and cultures throughout and modern times.
the region. However, the result became a purely It remains to say that China is an exciting
Bright prospects
4
Chinese Lichtbericht. The material available to us subject and will continue for many years to sur-
proved so diverse and exciting that we wanted prise us all. A Lichtbericht completely dedicated
Report Indoor innovations 2008 to focus all our attention on the Chinese culture. to China barely begins to show the amazing
16
Cantax and Emanon spotlights The Imperial Palace in Beijing was once the diversity through such projects as the railway
Compar recessed spotlights
”Forbidden City“. Today, large parts of it are a station in Lhasa and the ”Forbidden City“ in
Compact HIT downlights
public museum, and since 1999 ERCO has been Beijing. But here and in just one edition, we
Nadir IP67 recessed floor luminaires
Floor washlights working with the Palace administration help- offer a fascinating glimpse of the traditional
ing to consolidate museum lighting tasks and entwined with the modern, all helping to build
Focus
20
The Palace of 9999 rooms transforming a listed building into a coherent an insight into the China of today.
6 Tim Henrik Maack
Light control with Spherolit technology
Today, large parts of what was once turnkey concept. An exciting and multifaceted
the ”Forbidden City“ are now museums. Double focus
21 project in a Palace with 9999 rooms.
Renovation and maintenance are per- Flexible design with exchangeable
These days, modern China is developing at
manent requirements. For the Palace reflectors
museum administration, high-quality break-neck speed carrying the old China along
lighting from ERCO is a long-term
with it. For architects and urban planners, the
investment.
Projects country is an experimental hotbed of industrial
clamour. Very much in contrast, the company
seat of Zhongtai Z58 in Shanghai seems a place
of pure tranquillity. It was built by the Japanese
architect, Kengo Kuma. Whether in architecture
or design, modern China is beginning to define
Background Final destination: Lhasa its role and provide its own impetus. Without
22
How do ERCO luminaires get to Tibet? doubt, it will be exciting to watch the further
By train – the new route to Lhasa is the
interaction between the cultures.
highest railway line in the world. Author
If you travel from Beijing to Tibet using the
Harald Maass made the journey for us.
Tibet Express, you will pass along the highest
Jinsha Site Museum
26
railway line in the world. After five years of con-
The mystery of the golden sand city: A
struction, it was finally finished in 2006. Over
12 Dr. Oliver Herwig new museum in the Sichuan province
Where buildings dance into the sky a stretch of 1,142km, you have the privilege of
showcases spectacular archaeological
China – an Eldorado for architecture and finds. enjoying scenery of breathtaking beauty. The
urban planning
final destination is the new station in Lhasa,
The Suzhou Historic Museum
30
professionally illuminated thanks to outdoor
Gardens of Heaven: A building that took
architect I.M. Pei back to the roots of luminaires from ERCO.
his family.
The Jinsha Site Museum offers the traveller
a journey back to the magic of ancient China.
Purely by chance, excavation work carried out
in 2001 uncovered finds which date back over
3,000 years to the ancient culture of the Jinsha
kingdom. To date, the number of artefacts
Backlights discovered have increased to well over 6,000,
32
German Design Award 2008 for ERCO a sensational insight into the early history of
Moving images in the Light Scout
Southwest China.
EuroShop 2008, Düsseldorf
I.M. Pei, the American star architect, was born
in Suzhou. That he could build a museum there
must have been a tremendous joy to him. The
ERCO Lichtbericht
Imprint
Publisher: Tim H. Maack
Editor in Chief: Martin Krautter Photographs (Page):
Design/Layout: Thomas Kotzur, Christoph Steinke Charles Crowell (2-3), Joshua Lieberman (3), Thomas
Printing: Mohn Media Mohndruck GmbH, Gütersloh Mayer (33), Alexander Ring (16-21), Dirk Vogel
(1, 32), Michael Wolf (U1, U2, 3, 4-15, 22-31, U4)
1028720000
1
ERCO Lichtbericht 85
© 2008 ERCO Translation: Lanzillotta Translations, Düsseldorf

3. Keylights
Dubai Jeep Chrysler Dodge Dubai
The new retail district at ”Dubai Fitted with parallel T16 light The French brand Pimkie is present
Festival City“ includes a number structures suspended at different even on the Persian Gulf, catering
of car showrooms: five makes, heights, this showroom by the to young, fashion-conscious
five concepts – all with light from Americans seems rather plain and females. In this shop, black Eclipse
ERCO. sober, yet powerfully dynamic. spotlights, mirror balls and asym-
Photos: Charles Crowell, Dubai metrical ceiling panels with
Architect: GHD, Dubai Office recessed spotlights create a spar-
Lighting design: kling club style atmosphere.
Aomori City Dubai Beijing
Visual Terrain, Van Nuys, CA
Way up in the north of the main
Building contractor: A must for Dubai tourists, the Pimkie Shop, Mall of the Emirates, The historical Nan Xin Chang
Japanese island of Honshu we find
Al Futtaim Carillion, Dubai Goldsouk. Hundreds of small shops Dubai district houses a total of nine well-
Aomori, a city in the prefecture
Electrical installation: vie for the customers’ attention, Architect and lighting designer: preserved, original rice granaries
built early in the 15th century
of the same name. The new art
Al Futtaim Engineering, Dubai not least with goods displayed in Pimkie Interior Design Team
museum here provides spacious glaring light. After consulting with to supply the Emperor’s court in
galleries for the collection, which ERCO Dubai, this jewellery shop Beijing. Subject to stringent con-
includes large-format works by took a huge step toward visual ditions for listed buildings, these
Marc Chagall. The gallery is illu- comfort by opting for Lightcast ancient walls were transformed
Volvo minated by Eclipse spotlights and downlights for metal halide lamps into stores and restaurants. The
wallwashers mounted on tracks.
Inside, Quinta TM spotlights on and complementary Starpoint entire district was designed like
suspended tracks accentuate the downlights for halogen lamps. a park and illuminated using
Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori City
vehicles. Outside, Parscoop flood- Beamer projectors.
Architect: Jun Aoki & Associates,
lights in corporate blue emphasise GB Diamonds Shop, Dubai
Tokyo
the eaves of the elegant, oval glass www.dubaicityofgold.com Landscape architects: Dongcheng
www.aomori-museum.jp
and steel structure. Landscape Administration Bureau,
Beijing
Architect: GHD, Dubai Office Lighting designer: Beijing Z
Toyota Lexus
Lighting design: Lighting Design CO., Ltd.
Visual Terrain, Van Nuys, CA This gigantic hall is the biggest The Emirates are a key market for
Building contractor: Toyota showroom in the world. premium brands such as Lexus.
Al Futtaim Carillion, Dubai Quinta, Stella and TM spotlights Great store is set by a perfect and
Electrical installation: fitted at great height bridge the discreet service in the showroom.
Al Futtaim Engineering, Dubai distance thanks to powerful, long- Brilliant light from TM spotlights
life metal halide lamps, HIT 70W, with metal halide lamps gives these
to highlight the vehicles. classy limousines the appropriate
shine.
Dubai Dubai
Architect: DSA Architects Inter-
national, Dubai / Johannesburg. Architect: GHD, Dubai Office For elegant furniture in Dubai, Only few competitors present this
Lighting design: Lighting design: Aati Furniture has been the No. 1 mix of electronics, media and the
Visual Terrain, Van Nuys, CA Visual Terrain, Van Nuys, CA address since 1982. One of its relevant services such as Internet
Building contractor: Building contractor: stores is situated on Sheikh Zayed access or mobile phone contracts
Al Futtaim Carillion, Dubai Al Futtaim Carillion, Dubai Road, a much-frequented arterial at such a high level of quality and
Electrical installation: Electrical installation: road leading to Abu Dhabi. The in such trendy fashion as the Virgin
Al Futtaim Engineering, Dubai Al Futtaim Engineering, Dubai ambient lighting in the loft style chain. Red dominates here as the
showroom is provided by Lightcast corporate colour, while a multitude
Tokyo
Honda downlights for metal halide lamps, of spotlights on singlets or recessed
Within close proximity of the pop- integrated into black, painted cable in the ceiling provide the right
Cars, motorbikes and outboard
ular Jingu Gaien parks, Café Speira suspension bridges. Spotlights lighting effects for such an abun-
engines from the Japanese brand
is located on an avenue lined by from the Castor range produce dant product offer in the branch
are presented in a spacious hall
maidenhair trees. Inside, it is lit by additional accent lighting on the at the Mall of the Emirates.
under TM and Stella spotlights
Quadra directional luminaires and exhibits.
mounted on Monopoll tracks and
downlights. In the evening, its ter- Virgin Megastore, Mall of the
structures.
race presents a view onto magnifi- Aati Furniture, Dubai Emirates, Dubai
cent gardens effectively shown off Architect: Aati Contracts, Dubai Architect: Collet & Burger, Paris
Architect: GHD, Dubai Office
to advantage using Beamer projec- (interior design) Lighting design: Collet & Burger,
Lighting design:
tors and other lighting tools from Paris
Visual Terrain, Van Nuys, CA
the ERCO outdoor range. www.vmeganews.com
Building contractor:
Al Futtaim Carillion, Dubai
Café Speira, Tokyo
Electrical installation:
Architect and lighting designer:
Al Futtaim Engineering, Dubai
Nikken Sekkei, Tokyo
2 3
ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85

4. Bright prospects Palace museum, Forbidden City, Beijing
View into the ”Universe in the Mind –
60 Years of Painting by Liu Guosong“ exhibition
(26 April - 26 May 2007).
Photo: Michael Wolf, Hong Kong
4 5
ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85

5. The Palace of 9999 rooms Interior and lighting design:
Display & Exhibition Department, Propaganda &
Education Department, Forbidden City, Beijing
Today, large parts of what was once Photos: Michael Wolf, Hong Kong
the ”Forbidden City“ in Beijing are now
museums. Renovation and maintenance www.dpm.org.cn
are permanent requirements. For the Palace
museum administration, high-quality
lighting from ERCO is a long-term invest-
ment.
When Wang Yirong talks about the Imperial
Palace in Beijing, about the centuries-old
throne rooms, the former royal bedchambers
and hidden gardens, he may as well be remi-
niscing about his own home. In some ways he
is. “I grew up here as a child,” says Wang. His
father had once worked as a bookkeeper in the
administration of the ”Forbidden City“, as the
Chinese call the Palace. So as a child, Wang used
to play among imperial halls and chambers. “For
me, the Forbidden City is like a home,” he says.
The secret paths of his childhood still come
in useful to Wang, who today is Vice Director of
the Palace administration. True to the legend,
the Forbidden City has 9999 rooms in which the
Emperors of China resided until 1924, and thus The ”Forbidden City“ is
is ten times bigger than Buckingham Palace in the key attraction in
London. A tangle of temple halls, residential Beijing not only for for-
eign tourists but also for
buildings and accommodation for concubines
the increasing stream of
and eunuchs, it’s hard not to lose yourself in visitors from the Chinese
here. A city within a city. “So far, only a part of provinces. Members of a
tourist party recognise
the complex is open to visitors,” explains Wang.
each other by their differ-
With the paint in the centuries-old halls ent coloured caps.
coming off, termites eating away at the old
wooden pillars, the roofs being leaky and the Adjacent buildings to
the wood to fix the spotlights in the old Palace with bronze tortoises and cranes, symbols the paint stay on for
the west of the ”Hall of longer. The yellow roof
ornate wall paintings fading, Beijing’s Imperial halls was, of course, not an option,” explains of luck and eternal reign. The renovated hall Protecting Harmony“ tiles are also baked using
Palace is currently undergoing the biggest ren- Ricky Zhang from the ERCO Representative will reopen to visitors in time for the start of (Baohedian Xiwu): tradi- traditional methods.
ovation in its history. The task of the century: Office in Beijing. Instead, the lighting installa- the Olympic Games in the summer. Around tional craft methods are
Originally, the ”Palace of
used in the restoration.
since 2002, up to 2000 craftsmen and restora- tions were mounted on special fixtures that did 100 ERCO spotlights will then present it in the Heavenly Purity“ (Qian-
The painters for example,
tion specialists have worked on returning the not require structural interference or changes. right light. qinggong) was designed
still prepare their red
to be the residential
Palace to its former glory. The cost: 100 million “Protecting the historical structures is a top For Wang and his colleagues the work, paint as in olden days,
palace of the Emperor.
Yuan per year – around ten million Euros. The using a mixture of pig’s
priority for us,” says Zhang. ERCO’s expertise in however, continues. 30,000 visitors flock to Today, it houses exhibi-
blood and ground bricks,
work is scheduled to be finished by 2020 – in museum lighting also paid off in the illumina- the former Imperial City on any given day. On tions of life at the impe-
which is then dabbed
rial court and is a popular
time for the 600th anniversary celebrations. tion of photosensitive exhibits and paintings. record days, this figure could even be as high onto the wooden pillars
background for souvenir
“The renovation is very costly and complex,” One of the results of this cooperation is as 100,000. “The visit should be a special expe- using silk pads. This makes
photos.
says Wang. He is sitting in his office inside the Qianqinggong – the Palace of Heavenly Purity. rience for each individual”, says Wang. “The
Forbidden City, grey walls with a curved roof Once the private chambers of the imperial Forbidden City becomes a huge museum. This
and wooden pillars, adjacent to a landscaped family, the hall later served regents as an audi- is our job.”
courtyard. “In former times, this is where the ence room in which they also received foreign
sons of the Emperor would live,” recounts Harald Maass
envoys. It was last officially used in 1922 when
Wang, pointing toward the green tiles. In con- Emperor Pu Yi, who had already been deposed
trast, all other buildings in the Forbidden City by that time, was married. Visitors and tourists,
have yellow roofs – once the symbol and privi- who can only peer into the lavishly furnished
lege of the Emperor. interior from outside, mostly do not realise that
“Our aim is to restore the buildings as close to the hall is fitted with almost two dozen con-
their original state as possible,” explains Wang. cealed ERCO floodlights. “Our aim was to boost
Hence the Palace administration sought out natural daylight as inconspicuously as possi-
Beijing’s master craftsmen, 70- and 80-year-old ble,” explains Zhang. Visitors are thus given an
men, some of whose families had worked in the authentic taste of the imperial era.
Imperial Palace for several generations – many a Another highlight of the Palace complex,
forgotten technique was rediscovered. In terms the “Hall of Supreme Harmony” (Taihedian),
of lighting for the buildings and exhibitions, is currently veiled in green cloth while the
however, the Imperial Palace administration hammering and renovating is still ongoing.
opted for contemporary technology and thus At 29 metres, this hall is the tallest building
has been working with ERCO since 1999. “ERCO in the Forbidden City. Here, China’s Emperors
sets the highest standards in museum lighting,” were once crowned, hence the lavish interior of
says Wang. After all, the conditions for the pres- this building. Mythical creatures decorate the
ervation of historical monuments are strict, even eaves. When it rains, 1142 marble dragonheads
with regard to lighting. “Hammering nails into spew out the water. The terrace is adorned
6 7
ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85

6. Forbidden City
Accent lighting empha-
sises the details of the
magnificently painted
halls decorated with
intricate woodcarvings.
Installing the lighting
systems without tamper-
ing with the substance
often requires talent for
improvisation.
The residential buildings
to the west of the cen-
tral axis, including their
furnishings, have been
preserved or restored to
give an impression of
daily life in the Palace.
In the ”Hall of Mental
Cultivation“ (Yangxin
Dian, right) in the south
of this sector, Empress
Cixi attended to the
affairs of state, hidden
behind a curtain, until
1908.
Many of these buildings
are closed to visitors
and can only be viewed
through windows.
Lighting tools such as
Focalflood floodlights
are arranged outside the
field of vision to provide
glare-free illumination
of the room.
The ”Palace of Earthly
Peace“ (Kunninggong, top
and left) is the last of the
three rear palaces. During
the Ming dynasty, it was
used as sleeping cham-
bers for the Empresses.
8 9
ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85

7. Forbidden City
Today, the ”Hall of
Military Courage“
(Wuyingdian) is a
gallery for temporary
exhibitions of historical
and modern works of
art. The lighting tech-
nology used here is of
maximum quality and
includes Optec wall-
washers and spotlights.
In the historic sur-
roundings of the ”Hall
of Military Courage“
(Wuyingdian) and effec-
tively bathed in light, the
painting by Liu Guosong,
a contemporary artist
from Taiwan, has a sug-
In the annexes to the
gestive effect.
Palace (Dongxiwu), the
Palace museum displays
items from its vast collec-
tion of time-honoured art
treasures of the imperial
court.
Display cabinets in the
annex to the Palace
(Dongxiwu): reliefs and
clay figures along with
wall paintings give an
idea of life at the ancient
imperial court.
In the galleries, Pollux
projection spotlights
conjure up traditional
Chinese ornaments of
light on the ground.
10 11
ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85

8. Where buildings dance into the sky
China – an Eldorado for architecture and
urban planning
A dramatic atrium and
Zhongtai Z58, Shanghai a panoramic view with
by Dr. Oliver Herwig
Architect: Kengo Kuma & design classics: Kengo
Associates, Tokyo Kuma is a virtuoso of
Lighting designer: Zhong- modulated transitions
tai Lighting, Shanghai between inside and out-
Photos: Michael Wolf, side, between materials
Hong Kong such as water and glass.
New beginnings! An excavator flattens Architecture). The highlight without a out of categories to describe this change cooperation with local partners in Phase for 130 people and the familiar mixture with the world. The Middle Kingdom is
a brick wall, dust whirls up and wood doubt should be 8/8/2008, the opening to turbocapitalism. Chris Dercon, Director Two. The increasing transfer of ideas, uses of cafes and shops entwined around the not just growing; it is exploding. “Over
splinters; tomorrow will see the start of day of the Olympic Games in Beijing. This of the Munich Haus der Kunst (House of of form and construction design rings in building like a garland. the past 20 years, our cities have become
something new! Something big and some- lucky day for the Middle Kingdom will Art), who travelled through China, sounds Phase Three: national and international The social awakening is reflected in the biggest building sites in the world,”
thing shiny. A shopping mall perhaps, or present a new superpower, awash with as baffled as he is frustrated. “The jury of companies (or hybrids and independent experimental art. Hong Hao, a conceptual laments Zhao Zhijin, a Chinese urban plan-
an office complex. The Middle Kingdom is ultramodern sports arenas and competition the CCAA on which I serve has voted Liu agencies of globally operating architec- artist born in Peking in 1964, aptly sums ner. The real estate and building industries
vibrating with energy! centres. China will be a building exhibi- Wei the best artist of recent years,” writes tural firms) compete for follow-up orders it up: show serious signs of overheating. Since
“The construction problems of today are tion of top international offices. However, Dercon, “although we did have some and further development measures. Inter- “I ask myself what the connection is his last multi-city trip barely three months
enormous,”1 complains Margarete Schütte- the time of guest architects, these catalysts heated discussions on the jury regarding national beacons now feature side by side between individual and collective identity ago, “the real estate prices in some parts
Lihotzky as early as 1956 after her trip to for change, from Europe, Japan and the the dominance of commerce, especially with torchbearers of Chinese provenance. and come to the following conclusion: of Shanghai and Shenzhen have risen by
the Chinese plagiarism tricks.”2 Despite its
Asia, when detailing the dimensions of a US, dropping projects by the dozen over Phase Four finally catapults local archi- we are what we consume, and what we up to 30 per cent,” bewailed “pixelpainter”
consume makes us unique.”4 The identity
country that puts all European experiences boomtowns of the East, is coming to an humble endowment, the winner receives tects and civil engineers trained to global last October. The blogging investment
in the shade. The famous architect comes end. As China has successfully shown in a mere 3000 dollars, the CCAA (Chinese standards into key positions in building adopted in times of change, the spirit of banker gives figures. Where in 2006 a
up with a dozen comparisons to describe many other areas, the architecture of the Contemporary Art Award) is deemed to design and development. optimism and the acceptance of consumer- square metre of apartment space had
the Middle Kingdom, making it even a lit- Far East has also set about trying to rise to be trendsetting. After all, it awards “par- Ieoh Ming Pei continues to be the best- ism – these too are signs of a new mental- cost around 930 Euro, the price had now
tle tangible. “In such a country, to tackle international levels by copying, transfer ticularly creative and innovative Chinese known Chinese architect. Hailing from the ity that initially borrows Western identities increased to almost 1500 Euro. Critical
even the most urgent building tasks,” she and amalgamation, the consequence of artists, draws attention to Chinese contem- region of Kanton, he emigrated to the USA and then begins to fill them with its own voices are heard complaining about a ruth-
concludes, “is inconceivably difficult and which will feature there itself soon. China porary art, and thus raises awareness of the in the 1930s and has built very little in his ideas. Jenny Holzer’s dry reply to such a less demolition mentality. With a mixture
complex even in a planned economy.” is setting new standards. East and West are contribution of this art to the contemporary native country. His great-grandchildren consumerist manifesto: Protect me from of pride and unease, even Chinese news-
culture in China.”3 Maybe this is the root
Planned economy? Nothing could be fur- entangled on a huge experimental ground on the other hand, are actively involved what I want. papers report about this change in attitude.
ther from the truth today. The dragon has that is the third modernism. Nothing seems of the loss of standards, everything is in in the development of the country, such as “China News” stated that more buildings
developed turbocapitalistic traits. Two- Growth and tranquillity: Zhongtai
too fancy, nothing impossible. China is a state of flux, we have no idea yet where the Shanghai architects from Mada Spam, would be erected over the next five years
digit growth rates, gigantic export sur- Box Z58
everything, and everything at the same this journey will take us. Only this much currently deemed by experts as one of the than in the past 5000 years together.
pluses and booming stock markets. time is a stage for rationalism and repre- is certain, China is a mega-player in the hottest young firms. Not untypical for the If you want to see global networking, you However, there are also other sides, pro-
Such change needs signs. China adorns sentative architecture, late postmodern global market, and its role will continue to current situation, they also work as con- only need to go to a harbour, where con- jects that include the locality and trans-
itself with the icons of international build- ascendency and ultramodern features. The grow. tract architects for French architect Jean- tainers and landing cranes tirelessly fill the form it. As demonstrated by the Japanese
ing culture: office buildings, TV towers, result is not only solidiums but also ideals Michel Wilmotte. Their 8000sqm Centre bowels of the freighters. In 2006, seven of architect Kengo Kuma for Zhongtai Light-
museums, sports facilities, even regional Phase Four
of a society on the cusp of a new tomorrow. for Contemporary Art in Beijing, which the ten harbours with the highest turnover ing. Z58 is the four-storey complex of this
parliaments and entire cities from the The art market in China paints a similar China is like an accessible study for design- was opened last November, brings together worldwide were Chinese. In first place is up-and-coming company, named very
drawing boards of American, Japanese or picture to architecture. Recession is a word ers, psychologists and sociologists. Phase Chinese art and international works from Shanghai with 537 million tons of cargo. pragmatically after its address: Panyu Road
European designers. Not a month goes by this country does not seem to know, and an One: prestigious buildings. International the collection of the Belgian art collecting Next up are Ningbo and Guangzhou, each No. 58 in the East of Shanghai. An exclu-
without spectacular projects sprouting up increasing number of ‘Chuppys’ (Chinese competitions bring international award- couple, Ullens. The exhibition centre is a with 300 million tons, Tianjin (255 million sive residential area, framed by multi-
out of the ground, such as the Shenzhen urban professionals) are desperate to show winners, technology, and uses of form. completely remodelled frame construc- tons), Hong Kong (238 million tons), and storey blocks of flats. Right in the middle
Stock Exchange (SSE) designed by Rem off their hard earned success. While the Japan, the USA and Western Europe export tion from the 1950s, which now features a Qingdao and Dalian (each with 200 million of it now stands an architectural jewel that
Kohlhaas' OMA (Office for Metropolitan market is exploding, the West is running the state of the art. This is implemented in number of exhibition halls, an auditorium tons), all showing what connects China completely transforms the former watch
12 13
ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85

9. making factory in the garden of the family Weiss, was asked to comment, she said that Literature (selection)
Bert Bielefeld, Lars-Phillip Rusch: Bauen in China.
of Sun Yatsen. First, the architect had three China was “like the transrapid of archi-
Handbuch für Architekten und Ingenieure.
parts of the facade torn down, opened up tecture”. Speed creates new categories. Birkhäuser, 2006.
and replaced by a magnificent mantle of People no longer have any inclination for Uta Grosenick, Caspar H. Schübbe: China Art Book.
Dumont, 2007.
light, air and water. The front facing the standardised urbanity under the banner of
Philip Jodidio: CN. Architecture in China. Taschen,
street is made up of horizontally stacked Mao, Shanghai capitalism expresses the 2007.
plant troughs of reflecting metal which together. Opposites do not disappear they Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky: Millionenstädte Chinas.
mirror the ivy as well as the sky and earth. are integrated, as shown by Shi Xinning. Bilder- und Reisebuch einer Architektin (1958).
Springer, 2007.
The levels get blurred. What is in front, The 39-year-old painter of photorealistic
what is behind; what is real, what but fake pictures has the great Comrade Mao Footnotes
an image? Kuma has created a walk-in pose next to Marilyn Monroe or adds him 1 Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky: Millionenstädte Chinas.
Bilder- und Reisebuch einer Architektin (1958).
distorting mirror, the ideal exhibition to the famous photo of the victorious pow-
Springer, 2007, p. 34.
centre for the lighting company Zhongtai ers on Jalta. “This type of absurd picture 2 Dercon, Chris: Lang lebe die Partei! Kunstgalerien
Lighting. concoction,” says Xinning, “which can hit schießen wie Pilze aus dem Boden, und alle malen
A “laboratory, a cathedral of light” – this you deep down, proclaims that in the eyes Sarkozy – Eine Reise durch Chinas brodelnde Kul-
turszene. Süddeutsche Zeitung on Monday,
is what Kuma calls his own work, which the of each individual, everything can have an
11 February 2008, p. 13.
entirely different explanation.”6
Dutch stage and lighting designer Johan 3 A press release of the Bern Art Museums explains the
Vonk presented so congenially for the If there is one thing that has become backgrounds of the CCAA: http://www.kunstmuseum-
bern.ch/index.cfm?nav=567,1250,1610,1639&DID=9
opening event. Vonk was fascinated by this clear over the past few years it is this, even
&SID=1
transparent box and made it shine inside the world of architecture is only a market, a 4 Uta Grosenick, Caspar H. Schübbe: China Art Book.
and out. “It’s all about the structure, the global distribution process of ideas, forms, Dumont, 2007, p. 129.
horizontal, vertical, crossing lines,” he was styles and names. While some universal 5 Philip Jodidio: CN. Architecture in China.
Taschen, 2007, pp. 92-97, here p. 92.
quoted by the design magazine “surface”. brands have a determining influence on 6 Uta Grosenick, Caspar H. Schübbe: China Art Book.
Judging by its unimposing entrance at our perception, 99.9 per cent of the build- Dumont, 2007, p. 345.
the corner, one would never expect what ings remain below the radar of press and 7 Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky: Millionenstädte Chinas.
Bilder- und Reisebuch einer Architektin (1958).
follows, a high atrium that automatically public. They are accepted, occupied, used
Springer, 2007, p. 45 Ms. Emma Jiang (below)
forces you to look up. A wall of water that and at best, tolerated. The same is true in
is the Vice President of
continues the transitory experience of the China. But the sheer mass of the spectacu- Zhongtai. Her husband,
mirrored laminar wall. Both optically and lar and speculative buildings never ceases Kepei Cheng, is the foun-
acoustically, the waterfall acts as a lock to amaze. The Middle Kingdom has become der and CEO of Zhongtai
Holding that operates in
between the hectic bustle of Shanghai and the measure of globalised modernity and
different sectors of the
the clear working and exhibition envi- its new ideas. Kuma’s Green House in booming building and real
ronment of this light and water box. The Shanghai or the converted Centre for Con- estate industry. Both are
design fans and sell top-
reception is followed by an international temporary Art in Beijing have taken the
class European brands
lighting exhibition and beyond that, the first steps. Highly advanced technology is such as ERCO in China.
offices. The new top level on the fourth combined with time-transcending think-
floor displays the luxury of a 5-star hotel. ing. As Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky once
Pure minimalism with two glass cubes put it: the particular charm of the tradi-
forming two guest apartments. Rooms tional Chinese residential building is its
merge; only some glass separates bedroom “gradual transition from the stony streets
and bathroom. The cubes open up sky- teeming with people to the actual living
wards and towards the green of the garden space, the atrium [...] Here you feel far
removed from the hustle of the city.”7
of Sun Yatsen. Water laps about the edge
of the building, dissolves its periphery and Even Kuma can’t do more.
as a classic reflecting pool, separates the
glassy pavillions. Right in the middle we
find a panoramic lounge with two classic
chairs designed by Charles Eames. Sit on
this terrace, surrounded by choppy water ERCO products can be
found not only in the
and the light steel and glass structure, and
light showrooms of the
you may think you are in an aquarium. The Z58, but are also part of
elements fuse together. Air becomes water, the functional lighting
installation. Here, Optec
water turns into glass.
wallwashers provide ver-
Z58 for Zhongtai Lighting shows a new tical illumination in an
attitude in uncompromising aesthetics. office zone.
A conversion that uses the existing, yet
completely transforms it instead of for-
ever adding new features. Architect Kuma
reckons he can already perceive a change
in outlook, this building is an “expression
of the desire to get away from the practice
of copying the West.”5 Yet, West and East
seem very much united here, like yin and
yang in a timeless form.
China production: the world is growing
closer
China thinks in big pictures. This is what
foreigners learnt and so they produced
metaphors. When the former German
Secretary of State for Culture, Christina
14 15
ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85

10. Indoor Innovations 2008 The essence of innovations is more the opportunity to link state­
than a collection of creative ideas, of­the­art technology with the
inventions or research results. It results of ERCO’s own research
is the implementation of these to and development to produce
bring about a change for the bet­ designs which are as innovative
ter, to benefit the people who will as the technologies used in these
use them. Some are additions to, products. The following pages
and updates of, existing ranges, introduce our key innovations for
but predominantly, they include indoor areas.
several completely new product
Cantax Emanon
ranges. New developments provide
Design: Naoto Fukasawa Design: Yves Béhar, fuseproject
Based on ERCO’s latest develop­ appropriate wallwash version of Eventually, many methods and carrier with controlled ventilation
Four Spherolit reflectors Changing reflectors
with narrow spot, spot, without using tools
ments in lighting technology, the Spherolit reflector, the light effects used in stage lighting which is situated between the
flood and wide flood allows spotlights with
the Cantax range is a logically distribution pattern can even be and then applied to shops and high­quality plastic shells of the
beam angles are available Spherolit technology to
structured system which provides changed to that of a wallwasher shop windows, presentations spotlight housing. The flat part of
for accent lighting. be quickly and flexibly
adapted to new lighting
a professional quality of light in without altering the outer appear­ or trade fair stands, find their the housing provides a thermally
concepts.
shops, galleries, restaurants or ance of the spotlight. Alternatively, way into architecture. For these separated space for the electronic
residential areas, while making Cantax is also available with the applications, the time was right to or DALI­compatible control gear.
a striking, highly contemporary classic lens wallwasher technology develop, from scratch, a new range Its dimpled surface identifies a
design statement with a shape for vertical illumination. Natu­ of spotlights – a system which gripping zone to adjust the lumi­
made up of basic geometric forms. rally, the Cantax range with its would consolidate the progress of naires during operation.
As with Emanon spotlights, ERCO spotlights, wallwashers and acces­ lighting technology over the past
sories also comprises exclusive few years, effortlessly offering
ERCO technologies such as DALI­ creative designers the opportunity
Alternatively to the The Emanon Goborotator
spotlight reflector, the provides impressive high­
compatible Light Clients or the to implement the principles of
Spherolit reflector wall­ lights in a room using
varychrome spotlight with colour­ “tune the light“. Lighting equip­
wash, can be used for dynamic lighting effects.
compensating LED technology. The ment which would enable the
vertical illumination. The The use of metal gobos,
slight focal emphasis glass gobos or structure
housing and bracket on one side creation of scenographic effects,
noticeable in the upper lenses enables the light­
with concealed cables are of cast a familiar aspect in stage shows
third of the reflector ing designer to produce
aluminium with black or white and at events, or even for contin­
serves as additional a wide range of lighting
powder coat finishes. uous, day­by­day operation. This
accent lighting. effects. The rotating speed
can be set separately to
new range of spotlights, Emanon,
between four seconds
consists of a striking, integrative and four minutes. The
housing design for highly differ­ gobos are easy and quick
to change. After remov­
entiated lighting equipment, from
ing the front of the hous­
has provided Cantax with the standards including spotlights for
The Cantax LED vary­
ing, the Goborotator
chrome spotlight com­
new Spherolit reflectors, which low­voltage halogen or HIT lamps attachment can be
prises the exclusive ERCO
are available in four light distribu­ to ERCO specialities such as LED pivoted to the side.
colour compensation
tion patterns, from narrow spot varychrome spotlights or technical
technology and can be
conveniently controlled
to wide flood and as a Spherolit innovations such as the DALI­
via Light System DALI
wallwasher. In addition to provid­ controlled Goborotator. In terms
and the Light Studio
ing a superior quality of light, of heat management, this range
software.
they offer the user an option of also follows a new path – the ther­
quick changes to light distribution mally stressed components such
patterns by way of interchange­ as lamp, lampholder and reflector
able reflectors. When using an are installed in a cylindrical metal
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ERCO Lichtbericht 85 ERCO Lichtbericht 85