E
The Light Factory
Contents
Editorial. The Light Factory in the digital age
Editorial
The Light Factory in the digital age
1
The Light Factory
The Light Factory
2
Lighting design
4
Efficient visual comfort
6
Expertise
8
Our application
areas
ERCO LED technology
10
Simplicity
12
ERCO lighting tools
14
Diversity with light
16
Work
18
Planning office lighting
20
Shop
22
Planning shop lighting
24
Culture
26
Planning exhibition lighting
28
Community
30
Planning light for public buildings
32
Hospitality
34
Planning light for gastronomy
36
Living
38
Planning light for homes
40
Public
42
Planning light for public places
44
Contemplation
46
Planning light for sacred buildings
48
When ERCO signalled that it was the first
established luminaire manufacturer worldwide
to develop, produce and sell light based entirely on digital technology, the news caused great
excitement in the lighting and architecture
sectors. “light digital” has since become our
leitmotif, summarising our approach to reconsider lighting in every possible aspect based on
the opportunities of LED technology. Development and production at ERCO are deliberately located in Germany, enabling us to guarantee ultimate precision and quality of our
­lighting tools – one more reason why we call
ourselves the Light Factory. But is the metaphor of a factory not a touch outdated in the
era of digital light?
Not at all, actually. Whilst development
work for ERCO LED innovations may, in some
ways, be more representative of the agile,
networked approach of digital start-ups, it
is firmly grounded in the experience of an
industrial company with a long tradition, providing us with the means and momentum to
concen­trate on what ERCO has always done
best: perfecting architectural light with ultimate precision.
Every aspect of the process, from the design
and development through to production
and assembly, is handled under one roof. The
short distances promote interdisciplinary dialogue whilst maintaining the superior quality for which we are recognised. Working with
an international network of ERCO consultants,
we keep our finger on the pulse of time and
beyond, committed to the continuous development of products that meet the current
requirements of architects, lighting and electrical designers in the field.
One year after our complete and radical
change to digital light, ERCO LED tech­nology
has now become a natural choice for c­ reative
and technical designers as a tool for more
user-friendly and energy-efficient concepts of
perception-orientated architectural lighting.
light digital means
reconsidering light in
every dimension.
ERCO Light Factory 1
The Light Factory
ERCO is a leading international specialist in
architectural lighting, using 100% LED technology. The family business, based in Lüden­
scheid, in the heart of Germany, now operates as a global player with independent sales
organisations and partners in 55 countries
worldwide.
Founded in 1934, ERCO pioneered architectural lighting across Europe in the 1960s,
and today, less than 50 years later, is the first
established luminaire manufacturer with a
portfolio based entirely on LED technology.
Around 1,000 committed and dedicated ERCO
­employees worldwide ensure that LED technology is developed from a pure tech­nology
into a sophisticated lighting tool – because
perception-orientated lighting design, implemented in the context of efficient visual comfort, is our mission.
Focus at ERCO is given to open, interdisciplinary and international cooperation: While
our ERCO luminaires are developed and produced carefully and with an eye on the future
by our team at the Lüdenscheid Light F­ actory,
our competent and motivated consultants at
international ERCO sales offices ensure that
they are used in thousands of different applications around the globe.
We would be delighted to offer you the
possibility of experiencing ERCO lighting tools
in operation: in any of our ERCO showrooms
worldwide as well as in workshops at our
headquarters, and of course at trade fairs and
other industry events.
More information at:
www.erco.com/service
Top: Welcome to ERCO
– in talks at the Light+
Building booth. Right:
The ­international ERCO
team engaged in discussing digital innovations and current lighting issues.
The Light Finder as our
interactive online planning tool with efficient
ERCO product search
function can be found
at www.erco.com/­
lightfinder. Alterna­tively,
it can be downloaded as
an app.
2 ERCO Light Factory
The ERCO catalogue,
all product data sheets,
didactic knowledgebased modules and ERCO
­brochures can be down­
loaded at www.erco.com/
download. To order the
printed catalogue go to:
www.erco.com/
product-catalogue
Be inspired by our projects around the globe
and subscribe to our
Digital Lichtbericht at
www.erco.com/
newsletter
ERCO supports design­ers at every stage of
their work – with an
­efficient product search,
inspiration from refer­ence projects and light­ing expertise. More at
www.erco.com
ERCO Light Factory 3
Lighting design
Light is essential. Light is poetic. Light provides atmosphere and orientation. P­ eople have
always used light as a way of creating harmonious places. ERCO understands light as the
fourth dimension of architecture. As a design
feature in its own right, light can m
­ odel space
and objects using different levels of illuminance and alter the nocturnal ­appearance of
architecture significantly.
The ERCO product range is based entirely
on LED technology, as a logical consequence
of our position in delivering perfect light. LED
light, with its flexibility and precision, has
widened the options of modelling architecture
significantly and can now satisfy any and all
requirements.
Our lighting tools are developed in close
collaboration with architects, lighting designers and electrical consultants. Intensive dialogue with the industry stakeholders gives
ERCO a clear, realistic and yet also a v­ isionary
idea of what the designer requires. Creative
thinking inspires us, and we want to share this
inspiration. We see our role as consultants,
working in the background to support designers in the implementation of their concepts
with targeted solutions.
Qualitative lighting design
ERCO lighting tools afford the creative scope
required for the lighting design of complex
building projects. With this in mind, our products are developed on the basis of a perception-orientated approach to lighting design.
The American architect and lighting d­ esigner
Richard Kelly (1910-1977) distinguished the
qualities of light into three basic functions:
ambient luminescence, focal glow and play of
brilliants. This “language of light” is an optimal solution for the illumination of architecture – from the large open-plan office and
boutique through to the library – as it contributes significantly to meeting the requirements of its users. Experience has shown that
lighting concepts are considered to be pleasing and successful when all three components
– ambient lighting, directed accent light and
decorative lighting effects – are present in a
well-­balanced relationship. The “language of
light” is a reliable approach used to analyse
and structure lighting concepts and to select
the right lighting tools. With a variety of light
distribution patterns, warm white and neutral white light, different sizes and lumen categories, the system design for the luminaires
in our extensive ERCO range offers all the
components required for a differentiated and
user-focused lighting concept.
More information at:
www.erco.com/lightfinder
Digital light is
the fourth dimension
of architecture.
4 ERCO Light Factory
Ambient luminescence
This type of lighting refers
to uniform g­ eneral lighting, e.g. through downlights or through uniform
vertical illuminance. It
enables users and observers to find their bearings
and provides them with a
feeling of safety.
Focal glow
This typifies accent lighting used to emphasise
objects, areas and s­ pecific
zones in a space and to
create h
­ ierarchies of perception. It is a p­ rimary
consideration in the scenographic illumination of
art and fashion, façades
and monuments which
are intended to attract
attention.
Play of brilliants
This is the ­decorative
light, the light that
attracts attention; it is
light as an aesthetic end
in itself and includes light
effects using coloured
light as well as decorative
luminaires and objects of
light art.
ERCO Light Factory 5
Efficient visual comfort
Lighting requires energy. Manufacturers,
designers, engineers and users are obliged to
use limited resources to the greatest effect.
ERCO helps you rise to this challenge by supplying only the most efficient LED technology.
Efficient visual comfort (EVC) for ERCO means
a permanent and consistent optimisation of
both the energy efficiency and the light quality through innovative technical concepts that
enable sustainable lighting design. EVC, as a
strategy, rests on the intent of designing light
with focus on the user based on the principles of human perception, requirements of the
space and efficient glare control, thereby minimising energy usage. We have defined five
quality factors that describe efficient visual
comfort at ERCO.
Qualitative lighting design
In putting people at the heart of its ­strategy,
ERCO develops and designs its products with
focus on a careful, perception-­orientated
approach to lighting design. ERCO lighting
technology uses light to create hierarchies of
perception, and specifically, to ensure optimised performance of the visual task at hand.
Qualitative lighting design centres on vertical
illuminance and accentuation, as well as glare
control. Glare-free surroundings with consistent luminance levels are easier on the eye,
eliminating the need to adapt constantly to
changing lighting conditions. This enables the
designer to produce an energy-efficient solution based on lower illuminance levels and
subtle contrasts.
80%
Vertical illuminance
Wallwashing enhances
the impression of brightness, making rooms
appear more spacious.
A differentiated lighting
concept with a significant component of vertical illuminance holds the
secret to superior efficiency and light q­ uality.
Combined with accent
light, it reduces contrasts
that cause premature eye
6 ERCO Light Factory
fatigue. With the vertical
planes of an environment
making up around 80%
of our visual perception,
this explains why vertical
illuminance plays such a
crucial role in qualitative
lighting design as well as
for the efficiency of the
lighting concept.
Effective and efficient
technology
ERCO has developed
optical systems for LED
technology to meet various different lighting
requirements efficiently
and with enhanced visual
comfort. This includes
lens systems with ERCO’s
patented Spherolit technology, enabling light
to be directed precisely
where it is needed using
the full spectrum of
light distribution options.
ERCO sources the best
high-power LEDs avail­
able in the market, specifying the highest standards of colour deviation,
lumen maintenance
and forward voltage.
­Combined with excellent
thermal management,
this ensures optimum
operating conditions and
a long life of the LEDs.
Intelligent lighting
control
Lighting control is essential not only for scenographic effects and concepts, but also to improve
energy efficiency. ERCO
LEDs perform superbly
when dimmed, making
them great for f­ lexible
installations, and with
ERCO control gear, they
can be dimmed down
continuously to 1%.
Vertical illuminance
Due to the natural orientation of our visual
field, the vertical planes of an environment
constitute around 80% of our perception,
making them far more important to the subjective perception of brightness than the
light on horizontal surfaces. Vertical illuminance, therefore, is a characteristic f­ eature
of well-designed and economical lighting
­concepts. ERCO offers an exceptionally wide
range of appropriate lighting tools. Our wall­
washers produce a wide and spacious impression of the room whilst reducing visual contrasts to p­ rovide excellent lighting for the
workplace with minimal energy requirements.
The use of LED technology pays off yet again
here by producing light of utmost precision
and uniformity and ensuring maximum efficiency in energy use and maintenance. The
large luminaire spacing possible with ERCO’s
wallwashers supports the cost-efficient context of vertical illuminance.
to various spotlight characteristics. ERCO
lighting tools offer highly effective technology
designed to direct the light specifically onto
surfaces relevant to perception. The projected
light of LEDs, combined with the high-quality
lens systems provided by ERCO, ensures significant efficiency advantages over conventional
light guidance through reflection.
Intelligent lighting control
ERCO offers luminaires for different control
technologies, such as DALI control and phase
dimming. This makes scenic lighting uncomplicated and accessible. Typical scenarios
include the use of presence detectors to dim
or switch off lighting in unused rooms. Similarly, ambient lighting sensors or analogue
daylight sensors can be used to recall light
scenes to supplement the available daylight.
ERCO lighting tools combined with control
gear developed in-house guarantee optimised
dimming characteristics, making most of them
ideal for filming, with continuous dimming
down to 1%.
Efficient LED technology
ERCO’s accomplishments and leading role in
­architectural lighting with LED are based on the
decision to draw on its own expertise in optoelectronics. With in-house development – from
LED PCBs and electronics to thermal management – ERCO is always in control of its products and their specific characteristics. Therein
lies the basis for the efficiency of our luminaires and the principle at the core of each and
every ERCO lighting tool: specifying the highest standards for our high-power LEDs, based on
criteria such as colour rendering and ­constancy,
luminous flux and thermal stability, ­enables
us to guarantee consistently exceptional quality
in terms of luminous efficacy and long life. By
changing to LED technology, ERCO now ­focuses
its approach on creating lighting tools with
light source and photometric technology combined into a single integral element to support
maximum planning efficiency.
Effective lighting technology
Efficient, precise optical systems lower the
energy requirement for lighting. A comprehensive array of solutions ensures optimised
light distribution for specific lighting tasks.
This extends from the asymmetrical wallwasher
ERCO Light Factory 7
Expertise
The timely decision that ERCO made almost
10 years ago to begin a complete migration to
LED has proven an enormous advantage for
today. After just eight years of con­centrated
development work, we were the first established luminaire manufacturer in 2015 with
a range of products based completely on LED
technology. Our close interdisciplinary colla­
boration with lighting technicians, e­ ngineers
and designers enables us to maximise our
innovative capacity without compromising
on quality. We are, and remain, committed
to our Lüdenscheid base on the edge of the
Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area, which offers
the ­optimum infrastructure for networked
and innovative thinking.
Research and development
The complete and consistent change to LED
technology had ERCO reconsider light in every
possible aspect. Since then, the course for
ERCO to take the lead in architectural LED
lighting is set in our development ­department,
where our digital technology originates at the
interface between optical systems, electronics and information technology. The decision,
back in 2006, to form our own dedicated optoelectronics team to focus our development
work on LEDs as the technology of the future,
is now coming to fruition – in the form of
digital lighting tools designed to the h
­ ighest
standards. Our holistic approach to light as
a coherent entity, from the selection of LEDs
and the development of control gear and
optical systems through to the design concept, makes ERCO unique in its development
methodology.
Product design
Design has always played a key role at ERCO.
Strong concepts and creativity form the backbone of a design team focused on the creation of a distinct design language for our LED
product range on the principles of f­ unctional
minimalism. At the same time, our team is
­permanently engaged with advancing our
archetypal and flexible system design, which
enables creative designers to select the optimal ERCO products for their project and
­combine them with each other as required.
Production and assembly
ERCO has its manufacturing base in Germany.
The production and assembly processes at our
site in Lüdenscheid are closely monitored and
optimised consistently to guarantee e­ ffi­ciency
and superior quality. At the same time, the
short distances between development and production increase and channel our efficiency in
the best possible way, ensuring that the close
dialogue between our experts reflects in h
­ ighly
agile product development and premium solutions. All our electronics are manufactured
with ESD protection in a carefully monitored
and controlled reflow process – for optimised
assembly based on a meticulously researched
time and temperature profile. The result is
products that ensure long life and remarkably
low failure rates. Our suppliers are just as carefully selected for lasting partnerships built on
trust so ERCO customers can rely on our products 100%.
Short distances at the
Light Factory: ERCO lumi­
naires reflect the close
dialogue between physicians and engineers,
designers and architects.
"Made in Germany":
Globalising the art of
German engineering.
8 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 9
ERCO LED technology
Today, the architectural lighting branch is well
on the way in its migration to LED technology.
The focus is now on exploiting the full potential of state-of-the-art digital lighting technology in all areas of creative lighting – from
shops to offices and administration buildings
through to museums. ERCO has taken the lead
in optoelectronics, by developing LED products
in response to the lighting requirements of
modern architectural, cultural and corporate
projects. Our strengths in putting this technology to use for your benefit are outlined below.
LED modules
ERCO is known for its perfectionist approach
to details: We source the best high-­power LEDs
available in the market from ­reputable manufacturers – specifying the ­highest standards of
luminous efficacy, colour rendering and consistency, luminous flux and forward voltage.
Using the same LEDs for all our products in a
yearly LED upgrade cycle ensures that all ERCO
luminaires can be combined with each o­ ther.
Utmost ­attention is given to the LED PCBs as
the basis for the characteristics of the relevant lighting tool. Based on state-of-the-art
LED ­technology, ERCO develops and populates
its PCBs in-house. This approach enables us
to guarantee a consistently high quality in all
product details.
Long functional life: L90/B10
Lumen maintenance is a critical performance
metric for luminaires and explains our focus
on ensuring the best values for the LEDs in
our products. ERCO therefore uses LEDs with
the specification L90/B10 for a very consistent
lifetime performance, supported by advanced
thermal management in great lighting tools.
This means that over a period of 50,000 hours,
effectively 90% of the LEDs or more still
achieve 90% of their original luminous flux.
As well as this impressive performance, the
LEDs used at ERCO have an amazingly low failure rate of 0.1%, and even then, the luminaire
remains fully operational. Our focus on the
highest quality means that ERCO LEDs exceed
the standard specification currently used in
the market, offering the lowest possible maintenance requirements for the highest possible
efficiency of our lighting tools.
digital
analogue
10 ERCO Light Factory
Projection replaces
reflection
Conventional point light
sources emit light in a
solid angle of virtually
360°, whereas the inherent design of LEDs means
their light is directed in a
solid angle of <180°. The
result is reduced ­losses
due to spill light or light
emitted towards the
lamp­holder. Furthermore,
the higher transmission
efficiency of lenses compared to that of reflectors
produces a higher light
output ratio which results
in the greater luminous
flux from the luminaire.
In practice it comes down
to how much light arrives
on the target surface.
LED lenses
Be it for downlights, spotlights or wallwashers:
ERCO develops all its
­lenses in-house, guaranteeing maximum precision and efficiency for any
application.
LED lenses
As the quality and design of the lenses affects
the performance of an LED luminaire significantly, we have invested considerably in superior lens systems. Be it shops, offices or exhibitions: ERCO has developed optimised lighting
systems to meet the various different lighting
requirements. This includes solutions such as
the modular lens system with Spherolit technology and the cost-effective assimilated lens
system as prime examples that perfectly illustrate the potential of LED technology. Understanding the effect of light distribution in a
concept, we apply ourselves to providing the
widest array of precise photometric options to
support a differentiated lighting design.
Maximum precision: Projection replaces
reflection
With the 100% migration to LED technol­
ogy, ERCO has perfected the principle of light
­projection – in preference to conven­tional
reflection. The LED as a compact point light
source is ideal for projections with highly precise light distributions achieving a high light
­output ratio without spill light. The ­directed
light of the LEDs is focused through special
ERCO optical systems ensuring an optimum
luminous efficacy and maximum precision in
­guiding the light only and exactly where it
is needed. The brilliance and flexibility of the
projected ERCO LED light open up a ­diversity
of new options in the design of rooms and
ensure that the light arrives on the target surface with no losses.
Thermal management
Thermal management is a key design factor
in ensuring the longevity of LEDs and electronic components, and ultimately, in optimising the lumen maintenance of the luminaire.
ERCO uses passive heat sinks that dissipate
heat through convection, ensuring efficient
and quiet operation. All our LED modules are
designed to operate comfortably within their
approved temperature range to achieve their
rated life and output for the specified power,
and that throughout their entire operational
life. As a result, thermal management at ERCO
contributes to implementing an effective and
sustainable lighting concept.
Control gear
ERCO’s luminaires are always provided as a
unit, with matched, pre-connected control
gear for DALI and phase dimming. The control gear is precisely matched to the relevant
LED module to ensure maximum efficiency of
the LED over the specified number of operating hours with high luminous power. Every
combination of luminaire and connected
control gear is tested in-house so the user is
ensured ideal operation and safety, including
full compliance with EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) requirements. ERCO designs
and manufactures the control gear for most
of its indoor luminaires in-house. Using the
constant current dimming method, with continuous dimming down to 1%, makes ERCO
control gear particularly ideal for filming.
ERCO Light Factory 11
Simplicity
The ERCO luminaire system
As important as light is for human ­perception,
its significance is difficult to measure and
compare in daily life. As a unique s­ elling point
in the market, ERCO explains complex ­lighting
technology in a way that makes it easy to
understand and operate. Focused on the user,
ERCO lighting tools guarantee consistent
quality, compatibility and comparabil­ity. This
simple luminaire system, applied to our product range, provides all our partners with true
added value.
Consistent light quality
ERCO uses the same types of LEDs for all its
products. The LEDs are updated every year
for the annual product launch. Through strict
specification of the components ERCO guarantees consistent light quality in terms of
­colour rendering, colour temperature, c­ olour
locus and luminous flux. ERCO offers LED
­luminaires in neutral white (4000K) or warm
white (3000K), enabling the designer to produce subtle contrasts in a given space and
emphasise the tactile qualities of materials.
ERCO light distribution options
Lighting concepts are as diverse as the architecture, the exhibition or the brand for which
they are developed. In order to meet the different demands on light, ERCO offers s­ pecific
application-oriented lens systems with different light distributions based on an easy-to-­
understand system. This includes a broad spectrum of beam characteristics, such as the full
bandwidth from narrow spot to flood and oval
flood through to wallwash for spotights. These
optionally create efficient ambient lighting,
uniform wallwashing or directed accents.
Work light from point
light sources
Downlights offer a diversity of aesthetic and
­efficient alternatives to
linear luminaires and
­fluorescent lamps without dominating the ceiling design.
12 ERCO Light Factory
Consistent light quality
ERCO ensures optimum
consistency in the ­quality
of light throughout its
range by using LEDs with
the same properties,
including light colour,
colour locus and luminous flux.
Product design
Systematic miniaturisation: In the era of ­digital
light, ERCO’s in-house
design team has ­created
a distinct design language
focused increasingly on
the principles of convenient and functional mini­
malism.
ERCO light distributions
ERCO’s product range
includes a broad spectrum of precise light distributions: from focused
narrow spot and highly
efficient extra wide and
linear beams through to
even wallwashing.
Downlight replaces linear fluorescent
luminaire
ERCO is motivated by the desire to p­ erfect
the key advantage of the LED – optimised
­efficiency from a compact light source –
for office lighting. As a result, our new digital downlights offer an aesthetic a­ lternative
to linear luminaires, integrating discreetly
into the ceiling design for brilliant light with
­excellent visual comfort. This approach displays the full capability of ERCO photo­metric
technology particularly with the oval flood
characteristic: using a linear beam, it provides
an exceptionally energy-efficient solution for
the uniform illumination of elongated ­areas
such as hallways and work desks.
Product design
ERCO’s compact system design blends into
both classic and modern architecture. Based
on simple geometric shapes, all product r­ anges
are easy to combine with each other and in
­different sizes. The enormous range of lumen
packages covered by ERCO lighting tools gives
the designer flexibility to execute projects of
any scale and complexity. For even ­greater versatility in use, the ERCO in-house design team
has developed a distinct ­functional design language that reflects the requirements of LED
technology for the housing even from a visual
aspect.
Light understood
in the system –
­designed for practical
diversity.
ERCO Light Factory 13
ERCO lighting tools
Digital diversity
Be it spotlights for accentuated exhibits and
fashion, efficient downlights for pleasant
office lighting or wallwashers in long office
corridors – ERCO’s product range offers a
comprehensive set of tools for qualitative
lighting design in any application. Extending
the design concept to the outdoor area, we
have launched digital projectors, floodlights
and wallwashers delivering excellent performance with a level of efficiency and glare
control that may surprise even experienced
designers.
The diversity of our photometric technol­ogy and design options enable architects,
lighting designers and electrical consultants to
develop a comprehensive concept of indoor
and outdoor lighting with ERCO luminaires:
Major fashion labels use ERCO to create a distinct corporate lighting concept and present
their products in brilliant light, but also for
in-house art displays. Exhibition venues value
our luminaires for their ability to render artwork in the most natural colours as well as for
the efficient visual comfort they provide in
the back office, whilst companies equip their
workplaces with ERCO light and create strikingly illuminated façades that draw attention
in the outdoor area.
More information at
www.erco.com/products
14 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 15
Our application areas. Diversity with light
Every room needs its own lighting
concept, to support the users, as
well as to complement the architecture and the interior. ERCO’s
extensive experience in creative
architectural and object l­ighting
for different architectural segments links up with state-of-theart LED technology.
We have summarised the individual advantages of ERCO LED
lighting tools for modern office,
retail, museum, airport and façade
lighting on the following pages,
which also address the main issues
arising in the context of architectural lighting with LED against the
backdrop of our eight main application areas.
More at:
www.erco.com/planning-light
Work
Office buildings
Offices
16 ERCO Light Factory
Shop
Car dealerships
Retail and chain stores
Shopping malls
Supermarkets
Culture
Exhibition spaces
Galleries
Museums
Community
Administration buildings
Airports, railway and bus stations
Conference facilities
Educational facilities
Entertainment venues
Hospitality
Boats
Hotels
Restaurants and bars
Spas and wellness architecture
Sports facilities
Living
Care and retirement homes
Private residences and apartments
Public
Bridges
Car parks
Monuments
Parks
Public places
Contemplation
Churches
Mosques
Synagogues
Temples
ERCO Light Factory 17
Work
Office buildings
Offices
Law firm Pinsent Masons,
Belfast / Northern Ireland.
Architecture: Niels Torp
Architects, Oslo / Norway.
New premises of g­ raphic
design specialist ­Gráficas
Varias, Sant Sadurní
d'Anoia / Spain.
Architecture (renovations): Pere Pujol Rosell,
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia /
Spain. Interior design:
Maria Esteban Reche,
Metre Quadrat Studio,
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia /
Spain.
Office of Gruppo ­Lercari
Insurance Services,
Milan / Italy.
Architecture and lighting
design: Simone P­ aoletti,
Genoa / Italy.
18 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 19
Planning office lighting
A comfortable work environment with outstanding visual comfort is one of the keys to
bringing out the best in every employee. As
well as ensuring appropriate illuminance levels, this philosophy includes optimum glare
control and the harmonious effect of vertical
illuminance. With this in mind, ERCO has continually optimised its lighting tools to combine powerful and effective lighting technology for high light output ratios with optimum
glare control. Compact LED downlights are the
core of this approach and allow us to offer
an ­aesthetic and cost-effective alternative to
dominant linear luminaires and fluorescent
lamps.
1
In which phase of an office project
does lighting design become crucial?
Digital light is the fourth dimension of architecture – it is therefore a crucial part of the
planning process, particularly in c­ hallenging
spaces such as offices. Our global teams of
consultants support creative and t­ echnical
designers from the first stages of the c­ oncept
with project-specific advice. Each l­ighting
concept can also be viewed before implemen­
tation in our showrooms or by running mockups in the field. Our knowledge of the complexities of a building process reflects in the
system design of our products: separate installation components for dry construction and
electrics, such as mounting rings for downlights, optimise the logistics on site.
3
How can light be conducive to
an environment for concen­trated
and productive working with high
visual comfort?
Ergonomic light in the workplace requires uniformity, high vertical illuminances and efficient glare control – this is precisely what ERCO
downlights offer. The enhanced visual ­comfort
of an oval light distribution for desks is optimised further with uniform wallwashing. Combining bright vertical and horizontal ­surfaces,
meanwhile, creates a balanced contrast that
prevents premature eye strain. In addition to
this, the glare-free light of downlights and wall­washers enhances the impression of brightness
in the room and facilitates orientation.
2
4
The demanding situations of working in a specialised knowledge society pose a challenge to
conventional lighting solutions. Unlike square
or linear fluorescent luminaires, downlights
enable a wide variety of lighting solutions
that integrate discreetly with architecture to
accommodate any type of working situation:
different light distributions such as oval flood
illuminate open-plan offices, conference rooms
and circulation areas, whereas lighting tools
such as wallwashers produce a wide and spacious impression of the room. Downlights are
a point light source and therefore allow workplace arrangements to break away from the
direction of linear luminaires, enabling flexible
room concepts designed to harmonise with the
architecture.
Different light distributions in an ERCO range
enable application-oriented and therefore
economical solutions: The ERCO downlight
lens technology improves the efficiency of the
optical system by guiding the light p­ recisely
onto the target surface with no losses. Optimised thermal management, ERCO control
gear and LED modules with excellent lumen
maintenance through to the end give rise to
efficient lighting systems with low maintenance requirements. Oval flood distributions
allow the luminaires to be spaced far apart
for workplace lighting, thereby reducing the
­connected load of the system.
Is there a flexible alternative to
linear fluorescent luminaires for
modern offices?
What makes office lighting
­economical?
Gebr. Heinemann
logistics centre, Hamburg / Germany.
Architecture: ifb Consulting Engineers &
Architects, Hamburg /
Germany.
20 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 21
Shop
Car dealerships
Grocery stores
Retail and chain stores
Shopping malls
Antonia store, Milan /
Italy.
Architecture: ­Vincenzo
De Cotiis, Milan / I­taly.
­Lighting design: Black
Out, Milan / Italy.
Mercedes showroom,
Lugano / Switzerland.
Architecture: ­MERBAG
Immobilien AG,
­Schlieren / Switzerland.
Mykita store at the Bikini
Berlin / Germany.
Interior design: Mykita,
Berlin / Germany.
22 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 23
Planning shop lighting
Striking corporate lighting enhances the identity and image of international labels. Local
brands, in contrast, maintain their status
against competitors with inventive concepts,
exquisite quality, individual service and, of
course, the right lighting. ERCO spotlights and
downlights include diverse and efficient light
solutions for corporate lighting to present
products in a professional and eye-catching
style – thereby creating a recognisable image
for the brand environment.
1
How do I surprise my ­customers
occasionally with new lighting
concepts short of changing luminaires?
In the shop, a track system with s­ potlights
designed to be mounted without tools form
the basis for a flexible lighting design. The
­system provides the infrastructure that allows
flexible spotlight deployment on ceilings and
walls or on suspended light structures. Just a
few precise lighting tools can create e­ ye-­
catching contrasts. Interchangeable l­enses
allow very creative photometric solutions
whilst using a uniform product design.
2
How can customers be ­guided
through the shop with high-­
contrast illumination?
Dramatic lighting effects are a staple in
­merchandising. ERCO lighting tools, for this
environment, offer the creative scope to use
the light in the room to tell a story, highlight products effectively and apply the latest trends in retail design: accentuation with
­different light distributions such as narrow
spot stage specific products perfectly, w
­ hereas
oval flood distributions emphasise object
ensembles and long items such as shelving,
thereby dividing the shop into zones. Uni­
formly wallwashed surfaces have an almost
magnetic effect, drawing customers even further into the room. Switchable ERCO spotlights perform superbly in retail applications
that require powerful yet efficient light. The
reason is excellent thermal management that
ensures optimum power supply to the LEDs
with 1050mA, resulting in higher illuminance
on the target surface. As each offers the same
long life, hierarchies of perception in the shop
are easy to create with a minimum of investment and operating costs.
3
How does light point up the high
quality and natural properties of
my products?
Actual physical shops, unlike their d­ igital
counterparts, offer the advantage of an
authentic and tangible shopping e­ xperience.
Perception-orientated lighting concepts for
effective product presentations c­ ombine
accentuation with vertical illuminance. ERCO
LED luminaires deliver a quality of light that
reproduces colours faithfully, emphasises
­textures in the material and brings out even
the most delicate surface features. The light
­spectrum is, in essence, free of ultraviolet
and infrared components so colours remain
stable and heat-sensitive products such as
fresh produce remain protected.
4
How do I transfer the lighting
concept for my store a­ ccurately
and consistently to my international branches?
Recognisable light structures help to transform your brand into a spatial experience, by
using contrast, light colour and z­ oning for
a unique corporate lighting concept. ERCO
showrooms and professional m
­ ock-ups let you
test the visual effect of your c­ oncept before
implementation, which ERCO will make ­easier
for you with many years of e­ xperience in international chain store p­ rojects and a t­ horough
understanding of sector-­specific requirements.
With the ­worldwide ERCO c­ onsulting and sales
network, we can assist you in the execution
of your project, for example by offering optimised site l­ogistics with on-time deliveries,
pre-­assembled l­uminaires for instant installation, and full documentation.
Kiton showroom,
Milan / Italy.
Architecture: ­Franco
Raggi, Milan / Italy.
Lighting design: Gruppo
C14, Milan / Italy.
24 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 25
Culture
Exhibition spaces
Galleries
Museums
Louvre-Lens, Lens /
France.
Architecture: SANAA,
Tokyo / Japan. L­ ighting
design: Arup, London /
England. Exhibition
design: Studio Adrien
Gardère, Paris / France.
Barbican Centre, ­
“The Brits Who Built The
Modern World” exhibition,
­London / England.
Museo de las Culturas
del Mundo, Barcelona /
Spain.
26 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 27
Planning exhibition lighting
Effectively staging artwork and ­scientific
objects in exhibitions, naturally in the best
possible light, is defined as much by the core
curatorial requirements as by the c­ ultural
environment and the zeitgeist. We have developed a wide range of LED spotlights with
Spherolit lens technology to give e­ xhibition
organisers the broadest possible scope for
design, from the neutral presentation of
objects through to dramatically accentuated
specialities. For decades, ERCO has given focus
to the perfect perception of art enhancing it
with precise and efficient lighting t­ echnology
to preserve the art while rendering it in brilliant colours.
1
How does light emphasise the
effect of art?
Light quality and visual comfort have a huge
impact on the atmosphere in an exhibition.
ERCO LED modules and the proprietary photometric systems help to present art realis­tically
thanks to optimal colour rendering, identical light colours and a consistent colour locus
through to the end. The LED light projected
through the precision Spherolit lenses creates
very uniform light distributions with a precise beam that sets each object apart. Superb
glare control offers optimal visual comfort for
the visitors.
2
3
How do you come up with ever
new exhibition concepts in a
modern design?
You may work with a cool White Cube or
take a narrative approach to your scenographic concept – the fact is that light can
focus attention and provide orientation in any
room. A track system as infrastructure offers
the greatest flexibility here. ERCO spotlights
are easy to mount on track without tools and
are quick to adjust and align. Interchangeable Spherolit lenses enable the designer to
work with different light distributions. Be it
­narrow spot, flood, oval flood or wallwash
characteristics – a single luminaire range covers the full spectrum required to direct the
view, ­model objects and shape the perception
of space. When using phase dimmable spotlights, the luminous flux can additionally be
adjusted directly on the luminaire so the level
of brightness can be regulated precisely without the complexities of a control unit.
How do you illuminate art as an
eye-catching feature without
damaging it?
The light emitted by the ERCO LED l­ighting
tools is effectively free of ultraviolet and
­infrared components, thereby minimising the
­damaging effect of photochemical and thermodynamic processes that cause m
­ aterials
and colours to deteriorate. In addition, the
­different light distributions, along with dimmer settings of up to 1%, let the user design
­perception-orientated lighting concepts with
varied, high-contrast lighting effects that
focus maximum attention with low illumi­
nances. Vertical illuminances with wallwashers
add a complementary touch that gives the
room a bright impression when using low illuminance levels.
4
Is the “museum angle” still a
useful formula to use with LED
­technology?
Established lighting principles such as the
museum angle are useful even in the age of
LED technology to implement lighting solutions with efficient visual comfort. Light
with an angle of incidence of 30° models the
three-dimensionality of sculptures and helps
to illuminate pictures without causing glare.
To reduce glare still further, the luminaires
are best mounted next to, not above, the artwork. The light quality of the ERCO LED modules and our specially developed optical systems ensure that art is presented realistically
thanks to optimal colour rendering, i­dentical
light colours and a consistent colour locus
through to the end.
Musée Bourdelle, Paris /
France.
Architecture (renova­tions):
Christian de ­Portzamparc,
Casablanca / Morocco.
28 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 29
Community
Restaurant at the CEA
(Commissariat à l'énergie atomique), Saclay /
France.
Architecture (renovations): Olivier Delaittre,
Paris / France.
Administration buildings
Airports, railway and bus stations
Conference and entertainment venues
Educational facilities
Linz Music Theatre /
­Austria.
Architecture: Terry Pawson, London / England.
Lighting design: Kress &
Adams natural and artificial lighting design studio, Cologne / Germany.
Aeropuerto ­Internacional
de ­Carrasco, M
­ ontevideo /
Uruguay.
Architecture: Rafael
­Viñoly Architects, New
York / USA; C
­ arla Bechelli
Arquitectos, ­Buenos
Aires / Argentina. Lighting design: Ricardo
­Hofstadter, Montevideo /
Uruguay.
30 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 31
Planning light for public buildings
Economical solutions with high visual comfort are crucial for the illumination of educational, administration and transport b­ uildings
since they have to support low long-term
operational costs. As well as accentuating the
architectural concept, light in administration
buildings, conference and entertainment facilities, airports and railway or bus stations facilitates orientation and therefore helps to ensure
the safety of large crowds. In many cases, this
requires illumination of monumentally large
and often high spaces by using high levels of
luminous flux as well as efficient glare control.
ERCO’s double-focus downlights, in particular, facilitate effective lighting solutions and
­deliver an optimal environment for administration, education and work with focus on the
requirements of the public, but also the individual.
1
What are the specific c­ hallenges
of lighting design for public
buildings?
3
What does efficient lighting
in the public sector imply?
Light plays a crucial role in the design of
­public buildings, as it must balance the interests of the general public with those of the
individual. Circulation zones as well as work,
­waiting, communication and break areas
each present their own challenges in terms
of visual comfort and privacy. They therefore
require specific lighting solutions that reconcile the seemingly conflicting priorities of
a perception-orientated approach and low
­operating costs. ERCO’s homogeneous system
design enables a cross-functional, perception-­
orientated lighting concept by providing different design sizes, diverse light distributions
and a wide variety of lumen categories within a luminaire range. We are committed to
­making the whole project, from start to finish,
as easy as possible on the designer and builder, with planning aids and the experience we
offer in dealing with the challenges on site.
Luminous efficacy and light output ratio
describe the efficiency of a luminaire in
­quantitative terms and are often mandated
in standards. For a luminaire to be efficient
in every aspect of its application, however,
the light needs to arrive on the target surface with as little loss as possible. This can be
achieved, for example, with the precise opto­
electronic systems that ERCO designs and
manufactures in-house. A qualitative l­ighting
concept supports this aspect of e­ fficiency,
in that light is used only where it serves to
enhance perception. An optimised, c­ ohesive
system consisting of control gear, t­ hermal
management, LED and lens ensures that
the light is generated efficiently and g­ uided
­precisely where it needs to be. Our durable
­luminaires are easy to operate, particularly in
­areas that are difficult to access for maintenance. What is more, efficient ERCO photometrics minimise the number of luminaires
required, as the luminaires can be spaced un­usually far apart, offering high visual comfort.
2
4
Vertical planes make up around 80% of our
visual perception. Illuminated walls support
human orientation by increasing the perception of ambient brightness, while creating reference points that help us perceive a space
and its dimensions. ERCO lens wallwashers
are excellent for uniform vertical illuminance,
and better still, the luminaires can be spaced
far apart. Complemented by accent lighting to
focus attention on specific zones and information elements, the perception-orientated
approach can be applied even to large rooms.
In rooms with high ceilings, such as reception
halls or event spaces, the narrow-beam light
distribution of the double-focus ­downlights
enables broad use for efficient a­ mbient lighting with excellent glare control. The room
appears brighter, with a balanced contrast
­between horizontal and vertical illuminance
levels, p­ articularly in combination with lens
wallwashers. In prestigious spaces with ceilings of less than 5m, we recommend using
­downlights with a wide beam distribution, as
this allows ­wider luminaire spacing for more
uniform ambient lighting. Efficient glare control is vital here in minimising the view into
the lumi­naires – with a 90° emission angle and
a 40° cut-off, ­Quintessence downlights are a
superb choice.
How does light aid orientation
in administration, education and
transport buildings?
How do you achieve glare-free
yet efficient light in areas with
high ceilings?
Head office of insurance
firm HDI Gerling.
Architecture: ­Ingenhoven
Architects, Düsseldorf
/ Germany. Lighting
design: Tropp L­ ighting
Design, Weilheim /
­Germany.
32 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 33
Hospitality
Boats
Hotels, bars and restaurants
Spas and wellness architecture
Sports facilities
Guillaume at Bennelong
restaurant in the Sydney
Opera House / Australia.
Architecture: Jørn Utzon,
Copenhagen / Denmark
and Dale Jones-Evans,
Sydney / Australia (restaurant). Lighting design:
Barry Webb Design, Pymble / Australia.
Ameron Hotel Speicher­
stadt, Hamburg / Germany.
Architecture: Winking
Froh Architekten, Berlin /
Germany. Lighting design:
team licht, Hamburg /
Germany.
Parkbad Volksdorf water
park, Hamburg / G
­ ermany.
Architecture: bs2archi­
tekten GmbH, Hamburg /
Germany.
34 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 35
Planning light for gastronomy
Hospitality projects today are a testing ground
and platform for new ideas, concepts and
trends: The promise of exquisite cuisine is
underlined by an interior of unique character.
Be it design hotels, themed restaurants or temporary bars: Every concept applied to gastronomy requires a scenic frame to carry and communicate the relevant theme. ERCO provides
architectural lighting solutions with a d­ iversity
of scenographic options for room situations
that convey enjoyment and pleasure.
1
How do you create a cosy dinner
setting particularly in large rooms
with high ceilings?
The solution – whether you are looking at a
factory hall, a former church or a m
­ odern concrete cube – is accent lighting, p­ recisely targeted to illuminate each table ­separately from
above. Creating light islands gives guests the
feeling of privacy, particularly in ­sizeable restaurant, bar or hotel dining rooms. W
­ hereas
the oval flood distribution is a good ­solution
for long tables, spot or narrow spot adds the
finishing touch to a romantic setting for two.
The ERCO narrow spot 6° distribution, for
example, produces an exceptionally narrow
beam of powerful LED light for optimum illumination where high ceilings are involved.
Warm white light creates a pleasant ambience where efficient glare control is a must,
more so still in high rooms, to provide optimum visual comfort without disturbing the
customers at the tables. Alternatively, point
light sources, suspended from the ceiling, are
a good solution to create an atmosphere of
­privacy.
2
How can light enhance the appeal
of freshly prepared dishes?
Good food, a pleasant ambience and scintillating conversations are crucial factors for the
success of a gastronomic concept and as such
define its lighting requirements. Colour rendering is critical for good quality light and
can enhance the appeal of food. This requires
direct lighting to accentuate each table (see
question 1), a simple fact that is often ignored
in favour of diffuse lighting, which ­effectively
gives the meals a matt appearance. Our perception of colour is dependent on the ­colour
of the light and of the object, in other words,
on the body colour. Tomato soup and red wine,
for instance, have a warm body ­colour that
is emphasised by light with high red components, whilst fish looks freshest in light with
blue components. Pizzerias often favour a
­traditional Mediterranean setting with warm
white light (3000K), whereas ice cream parlours prefer a cooler ambience using neutral
white light (4000K). Food looks ­exceptionally
appetising in the brilliant light of quality lighting tools, creating reflections that give fruit
and vegetables a wholesome, fresh appearance
and drinks a more intense colour.
3
How do you use light to tell a
story that communicates the
­gastronomy concept?
You want the visual features in a restaurant to
enhance the culinary experience, not to compete with it. This is where architectural lighting comes in, providing a diversity of scenographic options that are subtle and yet
effective. In creating zones, the perception of
spatial order can be maximised, facilitating
general orientation when entering the room,
for example by emphasising the bar and the
dining area. Just as in the museum, light that
contrasts the ambient lighting with a luminance ten times higher is considered particularly pleasant in a gastronomy setting. Vertical illuminance, meanwhile, has a magical
quality that creates an inviting atmosphere,
and as grazing light, where the luminaires are
positioned close to the wall, for example, can
emphasise the surface texture and material of walls for a three-dimensional effect. Scenographic light also uses a coherent dramatisation to provide the customer with variable
light scenes that set the mood as required.
Dimming options and light effects are quick
and easy to create using a lighting control system or, alternatively, a simple rotary controller
on the luminaire.
4
How can the counter as the primary focal point in a bar or hotel
draw in customers with attractive
lighting?
The lighting concept for counters must manage the balancing act between inviting and
eye-catching light for the customers, to facilitate orientation in the bar or hotel, and high
visual comfort for staff behind the counter.
This balance between glare-free w
­ orkplaces
and evocative counter lighting is achieved
by combining vertical illuminance behind the
counter with pendant luminaires suspended
above. Wallwashing gives the room a spacious
and inviting appeal that draws customers
inside whilst ensuring efficient visual comfort
for work behind the counter – especially in a
reception area with computer screens. Lighting
accents elegantly projected onto the counter
give it further prominence. By the same token,
the precise light and the pendant luminaires
as defining architectural elements segregate
the space around and above the counter.
Halle 32, Gummersbach /
Germany.
Architecture: ­Heinrich
Böll, Essen / G
­ ermany.
Lighting design: Lichtwerke, Cologne / ­Germany.
36 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 37
Living
Villa Linari, Hamburg /
Germany.
Architecture: ­Dibelius
Architekten, H
­ amburg /
Germany. Lighting design:
Sineplan ­Ingenieurbüro
für Elektrotechnik und
Gebäudeleittechnik,
Hamburg / G
­ ermany;
­Ingenieurbüro Beyer,
Neumünster / G
­ ermany.
Care and retirement homes
Private residences and apartments
Schnabel residence,
­Berlin / Germany.
Architecture: ­Ingenbleek
Architekten, Berlin /
­Germany.
Carpe Diem Retirement
Park, Rommerskirchen /
Germany.
38 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 39
Planning light for homes
Designing the places in which we live deserves
our fullest attention, as they mirror our attitude to life and provide a place of refuge
from everyday life. When we’re at home, we
want to be with people we love and value.
­Working, eating, reading, sleeping, playing,
­thinking – hardly any other place combines
such ­diversity of functions in so small a space
as the places in which we live. ERCO l­ighting
­solutions bring this flexibility to any ­situation.
Wallwashers and downlights in a c­ ompact
shape make room to live even in confined
spaces. Light scenes combine ambient l­ighting
with ­striking accents; architectural lighting
and ­decorative luminaires harmonise to c­ reate
ambient lumi­nescence, focal glow and play
of brilliants (based on Richard Kelly, see p. 5).
­Lighting accents from spotlights or direc­tional
lumi­naires, created with a few simple means,
underline the character of a private residence:
setting off the collector’s vase on the side­board or adding a scenic frame to artwork on
the wall. Vertical illuminance, on the other
hand, achieves an expansive spatial impression.
With age especially, light effectively becomes
vital; wallwashing combined with accent
lighting creates optimum visual conditions in
retirement homes, whilst bright and pleas­antly
­illuminated rooms with balanced brightness
contrasts convey a sense of security.
1
What should you look for in
­luminaires for space with more
than just one light source?
The primary factor, in a nutshell, is ­consistent
light colours with the same chromaticity coordinates, to achieve a tranquil and h
­ armonious
ambience in the home whatever the light
source above the tables, in shelving and behind
the suite. With LEDs just as established for residential applications as elsewhere, it is important here as well to consider new lighting
parameters: As with all semiconductor products, LEDs exhibit a degree of production tolerance in areas such as the light colour. By
selecting the best possible LEDs, ERCO ensures
that its high-power LEDs have a chromaticity
variation of less than 2 SDCM (Standard Deviation of Colour Matching), which is currently
the highest standard available in the market.
The higher the SDCM value, the greater the
variation of light colour from the chromaticity
coordinates specified in the technical data of
the light source. A value of less than 2 SDCM
means that any colour deviation between individual LEDs is barely perceptible to the human
eye.
Gardens and terraces are an important part of
our home. A good approach to creating a link
between indoor and outdoor areas is to illuminate trees and vegetation using precisely
targeted accent light. In the evenings, glazed
façades often create a mirrored effect of the
inside: looking out becomes challenging, as
the glass – transparent during the day – turns
black. This effect can be mitigated with visible elements outside. Vegetation can be illuminated much like a wall, to help d­ elineate
space. “Moonlighting”, for example, adds a
natural effect whereby spotlights m
­ ounted on
façades illuminate the trees and b­ ushes from
above, whereas vertical illuminance on h
­ edges
brings out the natural texture of the leaves
and branches. Good glare control is ­another
aspect to remember, as brightly lit s­ urfaces in
the interior result in reflections on glass panes
that can obscure the view outside. By the
same token, glare can be caused where luminaires in the outdoor area are directed towards
the windows – especially as our pupils dilate
in dim surroundings, making them even more
­sensitive to glare.
2
4
The kitchen is central to the
home serving different functions.
What is the best lighting concept
to use here?
Private residence, Dortmund / Germany.
Architecture: Heiderich
Architekten, Lünen / Germany. Lighting design:
LDE Kober, Dortmund /
Germany.
40 ERCO Light Factory
3
How can you create a link
­between living space and out­door area?
The kitchen is a room where good colour rendering is essential, to ensure that the food
looks appetising. Our perception of colour is
stimulated by the colour of light as well as
that of the object, referred to as the body colour. When the body colour of an object is illuminated with the same colour of light, the
result is a more intense colour impression. The
orangey yellow body colour of bread rolls, for
example, appears richer with more yellow components in the light – which explains why bakers generally prefer light in the warm white
to orange range, whereas butchers favour red
and violet tones for their products. Generally
speaking, uniform light is a good option for the
kitchen, with focus on the work surfaces. The
luminaires are best positioned off-centre above
the work surface, to provide the right amount
of light without causing glare or hard shadows
on the target surface.
In what way can light be used to
create the impression of space in
small rooms?
Uniform wallwashing gives small rooms and
narrow hallways a higher and more spacious
appearance. As well as that, vertical illuminance in private homes achieves sustainable
and efficient ambient lighting more e­ ffectively
than horizontal light of the same ­connected
load, by optimising the spatial impression of
brightness. Thanks to the brilliance and uniformity of LED light, wallwashing adds a decorative effect to shelves and, for example,
makes book spines easy to read. Wallwashing
­combined with accent lighting gives the room
a structured and tidy feel, whereas bright
accents emphasise central elements in the
room, such as the reading corner, artwork on
the wall or a design icon.
ERCO Light Factory 41
Public
Bridges
Monuments
Parks and car parks
Public places
Imperial Forums, Rome /
Italy.
Lighting design: ­Francesca
and Vittorio ­Storaro,
Rome / Italy. Photo­
grapher: Vittorio Storaro,
Rome / Italy.
The New York Times
Building.
Architecture: ­Renzo
Piano Building ­Workshop,
­Genova / Paris / New
York; FXFowle Architects,
New York / USA. L­ ighting
design: OVI Office for
Visual Interaction, New
York / USA.
Esplanade Charles-deGaulle, Nîmes / France.
Architecture: Atelier
­Marguerit, ­Montpellier /
France. Lighting design:
L.E.A Les Eclairagistes
Associés, Lyon / France.
42 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 43
Planning light for public places
Parks, public places, monuments and façades
shape the face of a city at night with their
illumination. Their glow provides orientation
for various user groups, contributes to safety,
enhances spatial details through accentuation,
and creates atmosphere. ERCO lighting tools
for the outdoor area are designed to define
urban space after dark with exceptionally efficient LED light and are optimally shielded to
recede unobtrusively into the background.
1
How can façades and architectural elements be illuminated to
­create eye-catching features?
The key is using the right light distribution
in a design concept that integrates the illuminated façade into its setting or sets it off
in c­ ontrast to it. Accentuation of h
­ istoric
façades ­generally draws attention to f­ eatures
­relevant to their architectural era, such as
­columns or ornamentation, whereas contemporary architecture tends to give focus to the
building structure. Modern façade systems
are enhanced effectively with dynamic progressions of light, whilst linear grazing light
up against the façade brings out the ­material
nature and texture of the wall surface. In a
different strategy, vertical illuminance with
a uniform light distribution illuminates the
façade symmetrically from the ground up to
the top edge, emphasising the whole ­surface
as a single unit. This approach achieves a
bright spatial impression and brings the wall
to the fore in its function as a delineating surface. Regardless of the design concept, however, it is wise to use luminaires with good
glare control and precise light distribution to
achieve a qualitative lighting design and prevent spill light as a source of light pollution.
44 ERCO Light Factory
The main criterion to consider in selecting outdoor luminaires is to ensure a robust h
­ ousing
offering reliable protection against d­ amage
particularly if the luminaire is exposed to frequent moisture and mechanical stress. A good
indicator for the longevity of ERCO l­ighting
tools is the high IP rating in addition to the
robust design of the luminaires with a highquality, corrosion-resistant special surface
coating. A characteristic feature of all ERCO
in-ground luminaires, as well as a moistureproof junction box, is advanced capillary protection designed to prevent water p­ enetrating
into the housing through pressure compen­
sation when the luminaire cools down. In
­bollard luminaires, for instance, the LED technology is generally sealed off from the rest of
the housing to ensure optimal protection of
the luminaire head. In addition, because ERCO
lumi­naires are offered as a complete system
with integrated control gear, they are easy to
install even under difficult conditions.
2
4
Illuminated greenery attracts the attention of
the observer, thereby determining the atmosphere and spatial perception of the e­ xterior.
Trees as objects in the wider space become visible from several sides. Light positioned close
to the trunk grounds the tree – the crown
appears to shine from within. The further away
the luminaires are placed from the trunk, the
more intense the crown seems to be outlined.
“Moonlighting”, in contrast, adds a natural
effect whereby spotlights mounted on façades
illuminate the trees and bushes from above.
Similar to other wall surfaces, hedges and
shrubbery are generally good design targets
for vertical illuminance, giving the impression
of space and depth (see question 1).
In-ground luminaires are noticed eye-catchers
since the light source is positioned at ground
level and the distinctive upward light direction
immediately attracts attention. In this respect
they also assume some tasks of directive lighting, e.g. by marking pathways or highlighting
entrances. In addition to these applications,
the luminaires can also provide highly effective architectural lighting, such as for façades.
Bearing in mind that in-ground lumi­naires
obviously are at greater risk of corrosion, the
ERCO Tesis in-ground luminaire is made of
long fibre reinforced polyamide instead of
aluminium because of its optimised m
­ aterial
properties, including excellent corrosion resistance and good load bearing capacity. This
in-house design has earned ERCO the “Metall­
ersatz Award” for the most innovative metal
replacement solution.
What makes a good lighting
­concept for landscape gardens?
Weissenhaus Castle
Estate Resort and Spa,
Weissenhaus / Germany.
Interior design: Markus-­
Diedenhofen Innenarchi­
tektur, Reutlingen and
moodworks, Lensahn /
Germany. Landscape
architecture: MUHS
LandschaftsArchitekten,
Kiel / Germany.
3
How can I ensure a long life for
luminaires that are f­ requently
exposed to moisture, dirt and
stress?
What is important to r­ emember
when using in-ground luminaires?
ERCO Light Factory 45
Contemplation
Churches
Mosques
Synagogues
Temples
St Catharine’s main
church, Hamburg /
Germany.
Architecture: Helmut
Riemann Architekten,
Lübeck / Germany.
Lighting design: Peter
Andres, Beratende Ingenieure für Lichtplanung,
Hamburg / Germany.
Sheik Zayid Mosque,
Abu Dhabi / United Arab
­Emirates.
Architecture: Yusef
Abdelki, Syria (design),
Halcrow ­International
Partnership, Dubai /
­United Arab ­Emirates
(execution). ­Interior
design: Spatium Architects, Milan / Italy.
­Lighting design: Speirs +
Major, Edinburgh / Scotland.
Siegerland Motorway
Church, Wilnsdorf /
Germany.
Architecture: schneider +
schumacher, Frankfurt am
Main / Germany.
46 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 47
Planning light for sacred buildings
The language of light is pan-cultural and more
than its use as a way of creating places to
enjoy, light in any religion is a distinct ­symbol
of the divine. Light in sacred places ­creates a
contemplative atmosphere for religious meetings. In any place of worship, accentuated
light helps to direct the attention to ­essential
things. ERCO illuminates both ancient and
modern places of worship using light to produce a separate, timeless language. Light emitted from wall and ceiling washlights ­enhances
the perception of a protective and tranquil
environment. Accentuated light helps to direct
the attention to essential aspects of the room,
such as the altar or other architectural details.
Glare-free LED light ensures optimal visual
comfort for the congregation and mirrors the
quality of the incident daylight.
1
How can light be used effectively to emphasise architectural
details?
Sacred architecture translates the beliefs and
importance of a religion into a physical structure – light enhances this message. The dignity of monumental temples can be accentuated with light from tools such as wall and
ceiling washlights. Ceiling washlighting also
emphasises the protective character of domes
and other roofs and gives ­greater visual prominence to aspects such as ornamentation and
wall paintings. Accent lighting is ideal for
modelling wall paintings as well as the surface
­textures of ornamental details, it ­emphasises
religious symbolism, whereas discreetly integrated floor washlights, finally, but impor­tantly,
add glare-free light that supports the feeling
of safety and orientation through to the end
of the ceremony.
2
How can light produce a contemplative ambience that ­focuses
attention on the liturgical setting?
Light can enhance the liturgy of a religious
service by allowing essential aspects of the
room as well as protagonists to come to the
foreground of attention. A differentiated
lighting concept with light shining from different directions at precisely defined illuminance levels creates perceptions of hierarchy
without violating the contemplative ambience with excessively harsh light. Using threepoint lighting as the basis, a strong key light
as the principal illuminator accentuates a person or an object in the room. Contrasts and
shadows are reduced by adding softer and less
bright fill-light positioned at 90° angles relative to the key light. Optional backlight that
illuminates the subject from behind is useful
to highlight contours, whilst additional vertical illuminance strengthens the tranquil and
contemplative atmosphere in the room.
3
What are the main challenges in
selecting luminaires for sacred
places?
Every place of worship is unique. Unusual spatial geometries and materials make it necessary to test samples on site. ERCO c­ onsultants
assist lighting designers in the ­implementation
of individual lighting design concepts with
professional advice throughout the project.
As well as powerful ­luminous flux to illuminate spaces that are ­regularly beyond ­normal
dimensions, and precise light distributions
for altars and other liturgical elements, good
glare control of the luminaires is an important aspect, particularly as it ensures that
prayer and hymn books are easy to read. Vertical ­illuminance brings walls to the fore in
their function as delineating surfaces – or, just
the opposite, lends them an immaterial quality. Special grazing light wallwashers, on the
other hand, emphasise natural stone, wood or
­concrete and make a feature of unusual surfaces. Finally, and with the goal of giving materials a ­deeper, richer colour, such elements will
need to be illuminated with the same colour
of light – warm wood tones, for example, are
enhanced effectively using warm white light
at 3000K, whereas slate requires neutral white
light at 4000K for emphasis.
4
What are good luminaires to use
so they operate as long as the
building they illuminate?
LED luminaires are the optimal answer to
light for sacred buildings, as the luminaires
are often mounted at significant heights that
are hard to reach. With extremely low-maintenance requirements, LED options therefore
save a significant amount of trouble. The longevity of LED lighting tools is explained by
two factors – the quality of the LEDs used
as well as advanced thermal management.
ERCO selects the best high-power LEDs available in the market based on strict criteria and
has taken thermal management to a level that
ensures efficient illumination with high lumen
maintenance over a very long period of time:
for up to 50,000 hours, effectively 90% of the
LEDs or more still achieve 90% of their original luminous flux (L90/B10). Total failure of an
LED in ERCO lighting tools is very rare, at only
0.1% – and even with a slightly reduced luminous flux, the luminaire remains fully operational.
Milan Cathedral, Milan /
Italy.
Lighting design: F­ errara
Palladino e Associati,
Milan / Italy.
48 ERCO Light Factory
ERCO Light Factory 49
ERCO GmbH
Postfach 2460
58505 Lüdenscheid
Brockhauser Weg 80–82
58507 Lüdenscheid
Germany
Tel.:+49 2351 551 0
Fax:+49 2351 551 300
info@erco.com
www.erco.com
Art. No. 1028492000 EN 12/2015
E
The Light Factory