Verkís nominated for international lighting design awards
Two lighting design projects developed by Verkís have been nominated for de [d]arc awards. The projects are Óðinstorg, in collaboration with Basalt architects, and Stapaskóli, in collaboration with Arkís. The results will be announced later this spring.
The [d]arc awards is a unique concept utilising arc and darc magazines’ reputation as being the most widely read and respected lighting design publications in the world.
Oðinstorg – Reykjavík, Iceland
Winter and Darkness are almost synonymous in Iceland, so the night scene for this square was critical in the overall urban concept. Óðinstorg square is located in the heart of Reykjavík, but it was not used previously as a living are, but mainly a parking lot. The City of Reykjavík launched an urban design competition with the idea of providing this site with a much livable urban character. The nighttime strategy played a critical role to win this competition, and lighting designers were involved since the very beginning of this project.
The approach was not illumination, but rather a more holistic vision of this area for the night. This nightscape vision carefully reviewed all elements that will compose the project’s nighttime experience.
Following this vision, the lighting strategy used the elements composing the urban and landscape design, and looked for every opportunity to integrate lighting into them. The purpose is to create an inviting atmosphere even when the weather challenges you to be outside.
Area lighting was solved by discrete poles that would never compete with the other urban elements. The lighting plan also needed be coherent with the master lighting plan that the City of Reykjavík is currently developing.
The lighting installation is also prepared for future connectivity, all luminaires are digitally addressable. The current programming runs different scenes depending on the season, and specific time of the day. But lighting control system and installation is well prepared for future needs.
The arc magazine from february/march interviews Darío Gustavo Salazar, lighting designer at Verkís, about Oðinstorg.
Stapaskóli – Keflavík, Iceland
The concept of the lighting design for Stapaskóli elementary school was to enhance the architecture, while creating a flexible lighting design for the students and teachers. Lighting was also planned to influence behavior, creating a balance between active, and quite zones. with Artificial lighting was also coordinated with daylight.
Enhancing the architecture with the lighting design is a crucial part. Emphasizing the materials, colours and structure with a focused lighting gives the architecture more visibility and focus.
Flexibility comes with a playful location and sizing of luminaires. A great portion of luminaires where “randomly” located in the ceiling, with the intension of creating a flexible environment. The classrooms are large and will serve a diverse purpose. Along with flexible design, the goal was also to use task/focused lighting to encourage student’s concentration, and thus improving the acoustics of the building.
In a country with a geographical location which does not allow much daylight, it is crucial to take advantage of every daylight hour that is given. With an architecturally structured central sphere with a light core that provides daylight between the two floors in every classroom “unit”, an artificial lighting that mimics daylight was an important part of the design. With powerful spotlights from the ceiling structure of the light core as well as backlit ceiling on the ground floor daylight can be mimicked in the darker hours.
World goals
