PROJECT DETAILS
KKL, CULTURE AND CONVENTION CENTRE LUCERNE
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
Installed Products
Versatile event location shines in a new light
The Culture and Convention Centre Lucerne enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide as a venue for classical concerts. Exciting for those interested in light: Not only the prominent architecture, but also the lighting moods were meticulously defined by star architect Jean Nouvel. They were therefore to remain unaltered - even after the lighting refurbishment, which was an economic necessity 20 years after the initial occupancy. With Zumtobel, ways and possibilities were found to perfectly reproduce the orchestrated lighting atmosphere and at the same time generate significant added value. With variable light colours (RGBW and tunableWhite), the KKL Lucerne will in future also be a versatile event location in terms of lighting technology.
Lighthouse project enriches cityscape
The KKL, which was built 20 years ago as a lighthouse project directly on the shore of Lake Lucerne, has become an integral part of the cityscape. Jürg Schär, Head of Building & Security at KKL Luzern Management AG, associates the high level of acceptance among the population closely with the multifunctional use of the building. In the various halls, the spectrum of performances ranges from artist talks to grand symphonies, from rock to pop and comedy, from film screenings to CD recordings. Despite this immense versatility, Jürg Schär formulated a common goal for the lighting refurbishment of all halls: "To benefit from the advantages of advanced LED technology without affecting the architectural appearance."
His summary is thoroughly positive, because the concertgoers could not notice any difference. The character of the luminaires remained unchanged, and in the large concert hall the original lighting scenes for orchestra concerts were perfectly recreated. "This was no easy task and required very precise coordination," says Franz Schöpfer, the responsible Zumtobel project manager, summing up the process of developing the lighting concept with numerous special solutions.
Flexibility through technology
Significant added value was achieved through the use of advanced LED technology. RGBW and tunableWhite provide the building with more flexibility. With luminaires that change the colour of the light, the KKL is ideally equipped for the most diverse types of events: from congresses, where mainly tunableWhite functions are used, to colourfully staged rock or pop concerts. There is not only the option of static lighting scenes. Dynamic lighting sequences are also used, for example to announce the beginning of a performance. A dynamic light wave that runs around the auditorium in all the colours of a rainbow is particularly impressive.
Stage and workplace at the same time
Another aspect relevant to lighting technology: for musicians, artists or presenters, the event halls are not only a stage for the big performance, but also a workplace that requires maximum concentration for many hours. Excellent lighting quality supports the artists in their work and at the same time takes into account the individual wishes of the conductors and their teams. Via the lighting control system, it is not only possible to precisely adjust illuminance and light colour. Each lighting mood can also be saved and thus restored at the touch of a button.
Lighting refurbishment for more sustainability
The strongest motivation for the lighting refurbishment is permanent sustainability, which the Culture and Convention Centre strives for in catering and in all areas of building services - with thoroughly creative approaches. "One often unknown aspect, for example, is that we heat and cool the KKL Luzern with lake water," Jürg Schär lets the interested listener know. " From this point of view, the lighting refurbishment is part of a comprehensive concept for resource-saving operation." The idea of retrofitting to LED for ecological reasons had been with Jürg Schär for several years when the Covid pandemic presented the opportunity to use the time of the empty concert halls for the refurbishment. Thus, the auditorium, the Lucerne Hall and finally the large concert hall were converted from halogen and fluorescent lamps to LED within a tight time frame. The refurbishment project was further accelerated by the adoption of the new energy law in Switzerland.
As with all buildings with high visitor flows, safety is a huge priority at the KKL. With the refurbishment of the general lighting, the emergency lighting was also brought up to state-of-the-art. Safety luminaires and escape sign luminaires, some of which can be pivoted through 90 degrees, were renewed. Thanks to a special design, these luminaires disappear invisibly behind the curtain. The emergency lighting is supplied via an eBox central battery with several substations. This guarantees maximum reliability and conformity to standards.
Client: KKL Luzern Management AG, Lucerne (CH)
Architect: Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Paris (FR)
Electrical Planner: Scherler AG, Lucerne (CH)
Electrical installation: Frey+Cie Elektro AG, Lucerne (CH)
Project year: 2021
The Culture and Convention Centre Lucerne enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide as a venue for classical concerts. Exciting for those interested in light: Not only the prominent architecture, but also the lighting moods were meticulously defined by star architect Jean Nouvel. They were therefore to remain unaltered - even after the lighting refurbishment, which was an economic necessity 20 years after the initial occupancy. With Zumtobel, ways and possibilities were found to perfectly reproduce the orchestrated lighting atmosphere and at the same time generate significant added value. With variable light colours (RGBW and tunableWhite), the KKL Lucerne will in future also be a versatile event location in terms of lighting technology.
Lighthouse project enriches cityscape
The KKL, which was built 20 years ago as a lighthouse project directly on the shore of Lake Lucerne, has become an integral part of the cityscape. Jürg Schär, Head of Building & Security at KKL Luzern Management AG, associates the high level of acceptance among the population closely with the multifunctional use of the building. In the various halls, the spectrum of performances ranges from artist talks to grand symphonies, from rock to pop and comedy, from film screenings to CD recordings. Despite this immense versatility, Jürg Schär formulated a common goal for the lighting refurbishment of all halls: "To benefit from the advantages of advanced LED technology without affecting the architectural appearance."
His summary is thoroughly positive, because the concertgoers could not notice any difference. The character of the luminaires remained unchanged, and in the large concert hall the original lighting scenes for orchestra concerts were perfectly recreated. "This was no easy task and required very precise coordination," says Franz Schöpfer, the responsible Zumtobel project manager, summing up the process of developing the lighting concept with numerous special solutions.
Flexibility through technology
Significant added value was achieved through the use of advanced LED technology. RGBW and tunableWhite provide the building with more flexibility. With luminaires that change the colour of the light, the KKL is ideally equipped for the most diverse types of events: from congresses, where mainly tunableWhite functions are used, to colourfully staged rock or pop concerts. There is not only the option of static lighting scenes. Dynamic lighting sequences are also used, for example to announce the beginning of a performance. A dynamic light wave that runs around the auditorium in all the colours of a rainbow is particularly impressive.
Stage and workplace at the same time
Another aspect relevant to lighting technology: for musicians, artists or presenters, the event halls are not only a stage for the big performance, but also a workplace that requires maximum concentration for many hours. Excellent lighting quality supports the artists in their work and at the same time takes into account the individual wishes of the conductors and their teams. Via the lighting control system, it is not only possible to precisely adjust illuminance and light colour. Each lighting mood can also be saved and thus restored at the touch of a button.
Lighting refurbishment for more sustainability
The strongest motivation for the lighting refurbishment is permanent sustainability, which the Culture and Convention Centre strives for in catering and in all areas of building services - with thoroughly creative approaches. "One often unknown aspect, for example, is that we heat and cool the KKL Luzern with lake water," Jürg Schär lets the interested listener know. " From this point of view, the lighting refurbishment is part of a comprehensive concept for resource-saving operation." The idea of retrofitting to LED for ecological reasons had been with Jürg Schär for several years when the Covid pandemic presented the opportunity to use the time of the empty concert halls for the refurbishment. Thus, the auditorium, the Lucerne Hall and finally the large concert hall were converted from halogen and fluorescent lamps to LED within a tight time frame. The refurbishment project was further accelerated by the adoption of the new energy law in Switzerland.
As with all buildings with high visitor flows, safety is a huge priority at the KKL. With the refurbishment of the general lighting, the emergency lighting was also brought up to state-of-the-art. Safety luminaires and escape sign luminaires, some of which can be pivoted through 90 degrees, were renewed. Thanks to a special design, these luminaires disappear invisibly behind the curtain. The emergency lighting is supplied via an eBox central battery with several substations. This guarantees maximum reliability and conformity to standards.
Client: KKL Luzern Management AG, Lucerne (CH)
Architect: Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Paris (FR)
Electrical Planner: Scherler AG, Lucerne (CH)
Electrical installation: Frey+Cie Elektro AG, Lucerne (CH)
Project year: 2021
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