The renovation of Germany’s largest concert hall for classical music (3,600 seats) cost seven million Euros. As part of the project, the lighting was completely redone in the historical hall. The new lighting design allows for greater flexibility in the use of the hall for both small and large venues and contributes to an entirely new experience of the space thanks in part to the restoration of surface colours and materials.
At the centre of renovation efforts was the restoration of the “goddess of light”, a gilded wall relief, 99 years young, 3 meters wide, 6.5 meters high.
Illumination levels in the viewing area were increased and are no longer dependent on the original, historical chandeliers. With their brilliant, sparkling points of light, the seven large, newly restored chandeliers now create a festive ambience connecting the world of today with the historical past. The chandeliers, which are 2.7 meters high, 1.3 meters wide and composed of 11,000 crystal elements, were meticulously modified with LED technology for optimal efficiency.
With the stage and the suspended acoustical elements in mind, new pendant luminaires with direct and indirect light sources were designed in a highly specular finish that makes them nearly invisible in the room. Freely arranged, they evoke the image of a transparent “light cloud”. The dimmable pendants can be lowered or raised in groups.
The folded surface material of the stage backdrop is grazed with light that can change to any colour, including a glowing white. A perception of depth is consequently evoked. The architecturally pronounced pillars can likewise be illuminated with uplights in either white or coloured light, adding another layer of light to the overall composition.
The open ceiling in the middle of the hall is now illuminated with the soft glow of blue LEDs, giving the room a positive connection to the space above while insinuating the hall’s original cupola, now walled up, that once allowed daylight to penetrate the hall’s centre.
Despite higher illumination levels – at times more than double –, the overall connected load was reduced by 60%.
The entire new lighting system is equipped with energy efficient LED technology.
Special converters allow light level adjustments down to 0.1 percent, yet still guarantee flicker-free HD filming without shifts of colour.
