The X Factor
- A New Horizon
Nicosia, Cyprus
Photographer: George Rahmatoulin (Structure Capture Photography)
The design of Labs Tower is remarkable in any context but rising as it does out of the Foti Pitta in the heart of Nicosia Cyprus, the structure is simply striking. The ultra-modern creation of Eraclis Papachristou Architects dominates the skyline formed of low rise Mediterranean style buildings. Labs Tower rises 22 storeys above the cosmopolitan and bustling business centre, its neighbours at its feet, Labs Tower will be the second tallest tower in Nicosia at 90 metres.
Labs Tower is a mixed-use development, both office and high end residential. The vocabulary talks of a high transparency, starting with the structural system and the categorically defined elements according to their function. This is most apparent at the “junctions” between the main elements where the glass façade draws back to expose the structure in the common function areas. The design bucks the trend of completely wrapped structures in a single skin. Lab’s design provides a scheme which is clearly legible as a kit of parts, zones, and facilities that still reads an entity.
The Exposed structure also provided inspiration for the lighting design by Dakis Sevastides’ company Archtube Architectural Lighting Design. The V-shaped column structure is revealed in two double height features on floors 4 and 5 and floors 13 and 14 as well as the lobby. Lastly and most dramatically, in the crown of the building, four floors of structure are visible, dramatically forming X-Shaped column structures. Whilst all else of the skin or Labs Tower is a glass reflector, the exposed fair faced concrete column structures would readily accept light.
OUR BRIEF
The challenge would be to light all the column structures as evenly as possible but with Archtube’s imperative that glare was to be minimised if not eliminated for the benefit of both the inhabitants and passers-by. The least amount of energy should be used to achieve the desired outcome. Archtube quickly concluded that the V- Shaped column features should be illuminated from both below and above since this was the only way to light the opposing faces of the columns. Only white light would be used but it would be dynamic dual white. The finish on the luminaires must match that of the architecture. A system of aimable inground and recessed down lights would do the job, the detail of how exactly; would be the key to success.
At the crown of the building where the large X-Shaped columns are revealed, presented a considerably more complex challenge because as free-standing structures at the extremes of the building, only the inward facing side of the columns could be seen by the inground and downlight concept. The outward facing sides of the X-column had no vantage point view for any conventional light fixture. An entirely custom solution would be required. The special fixture would be difficult in itself; not just the illumination, but the elimination of glare and the minimisation of the size and therefore visibility of the luminaires themselves.
Photographer: George Rahmatoulin (Structure Capture Photography)
Archtube’s Dakis Sevastides had this to say.
“Through architects’ approach, the building transcends a brutalist approach using the main structural columns to define the elements of the building according to their function in a modernist approach of transparency and structure.
Most apparent, the structural junctions are exposed providing a significant canvas for the lighting to highlight this distinct architectural gesture.
Aiming to highlight the exposed structural elements came with challenges, not the least providing uniform illumination on the structural element’s visible components. At the same time, having the structural components as the main theme of the exterior facade lighting, an approach of colour temperature differentiation was introduced, highlighting the thickness of each structural element.
The technical restraints of different mounting limitations and conditions made the project challenging, where three different typologies of lighting fixtures have been proposed to be installed. Ultimately, all the fixtures were custom designed with special optics, distribution, and the necessary antiglare accessories.
Illumination Physics has been invited to meet the challenge and they did so with great success, through a time-consuming process that involved photometric tests, mock up, samples, mounting condition details and technical control information, three custom lighting fixtures were introduced for the project specifically, meeting the requirements of Archtube.
The introduction of an inground and ceiling recessed mounted adjustable fixture with oval beam optics and antiglare accessories, that would only highlight the structural element without providing glare to the occupant was the solution.
The greatest challenge was the structural X columns at the very top of the building where another custom illumination Physics fixture would be introduced”.
Photographer: George Rahmatoulin (Structure Capture Photography)
OUR SOLUTION
A great deal of modelling ensued both in the offices of Archtube and illumination Physics. We all knew where we were headed in principle with the lighting of the exposed columns between floors 4 & 5, 13 & 14 and the lobby.
Both recessed downlights and inground up-lights would be used all of them aimable. Because access for maintenance would be difficult, the decision was made to use remote DC constant current drivers. This meant that the luminaires would be simplified without any electronics on board. The constant current configuration allows for long cable runs without voltage drop issues, allowing a degree of freedom for convenient installation of the drivers.
The Dialux models revealed the minimum illumination required and the least number of fixtures required.
The downlight would be the IP Downlight series – Adjustable 15-watt downlight fitted with a longitudinal louver. An asymmetric lens with the long axis orientated on the long axis of the columns. The fixture is rated at IP66 and was painted to match the soffits. Externally painted Black, for the internal lobby, painted white.
The up-light would be one of the IP Aimable Inground series – IP Aimable IG mono 12-24 watts. Again the asymmetric lens was orientated to align the long axis with the column.
The lighting of these sections required a great deal of precision in planning the overlap of beam angles.
The greatest challenge was ahead of us. How to deal with the illumination of the outside faces of the double-height X columns, because they could not be seen by either the up-lights or down-lights.
THE HORIZON
“Horizon” became the working name for the custom luminaire that would be created for the illumination of the outer faces of the X columns.
It was possible to mount luminaires on the spandrel panel that crossed the X at its central intersection. The distance from the fixtures to the column was bound by the building envelope so an extreme beam angle of 180 degrees would be required from this viewpoint. From an ease of lighting perspective it would be convenient to use an array of perhaps 6 wash lights to achieve the coverage but his was not an option. The illumination could come from one position where two luminaires could be combined in one base. Each Luminaire required a minimum beam angle of 90 degrees, one angled up above the horizon and the other angled down below the horizon, the horizon being the centre of the X.
The illuminators could only be placed in one position, level with the centre of the X and as far away as the edge of the building. From this point the distance to the centre of the X was almost half the distance to the top and bottom of the X column. The decay of light with distance meant that simply using two 90 X 10-degree light fixtures would not work because the extremes of the columns would be darker and the centre of the X too bright.
It was necessary to create an upper and lower light fixture in which 12 LED light sources, complete with an asymmetrical lens, were all individually canted and lensed so that the overall illumination of the column was even. Effectively, each of the 12 LEDs in each fixture became a mini luminaire in its own right. Additionally, manual pan and tilt of the fixture would be required for fine tuning during focusing.
he shape of the luminaire deliberately echoes the angles of the columns. The light sources are deeply recessed between baffles so that they cannot be seen.
At the factory a 1:1 scale physical model of the X column was created, and the prototypes were positioned at the point in space that it would occur on the building. It is possible to model most of the lighting outcomes in software, but the Horizon became so complex that physical mock-up development was essential. Canting angles and LED power were finessed for each of the 12 mini-luminaires. The result? Even illumination of the faces of the X column top to bottom.
The end result is the Illumination Physics Horizon. A unique multi compound dual head luminaire which is the answer to a complicated question for a very particular architectural problem. Should a future problem arise that is like the X- Factor, we have the physics to deal with it.
CONCLUSION
The supply and installation of the equipment was managed by Illumination Physics partner in Cyprus LUCE Ataliotis. The focusing of the lights was done precisely and with great attention to accuracy. No mean feat given that rope access was required. The result is a celebration of the Eraclis Papachristou design through the use of scientifically accurate architectural lighting as a derivative artform.
PRODUCTS
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DLE02- IP adjustable (pan/tilt) downlight 3/15W 12VDC CC CW/WW 10x60 deg IP66 with rotatable linear louver screw installation square base RAL 9005 Black mirror (Item No. DLADW15W)
- ULE01 - IP aimable up light Mono 5/12W 12VDC CC WW 10x60 deg IP67 with linear louver IG niche with side cable entry -/+ 15 deg gimbal stainless steel flange 1m input cable (Item No. UPADW12W)
- WSE01 - IP custom horizon wash light 24VDC CC RAL 9005 Black Matt (Item No. CHWLDW)
- IP HPCC driver 900W 12 ouput DMX/RDM 12VDC CC (Item No. HPCC1212)
- IP HPCC driver 4 ouput DMX/RDM 12VDC CC (Item No. HPCC412)
- IP HPCC driver 300W 4 ouput DMX/RDM 24VDC CC 1A custom (Item No. HPCC4C)
- IP HPCC driver 300W 4 ouput DMX/RDM 24VDC CC 1A custom - Free of Charge (Item No. HPCC4C)
- 3m starter cable (1 per fixture)
- DMX splitters 6-way WMP opto isolated
- IP adjustable (pan/tilt) downlight 3/15W DC CC WW 10x60 deg IP66 with rotatable linear louver spring installation circular base white finish
- IP HPCC driver 800W 12 ouput DMX/RDM 12VDC CC
- Quadcore controller
- Kiosc touch panel