The road now runs under this skyscraper, which architect and building constructor Sigrid Kressmann-Zschach originally planned as a shopping centre. Construction began in 1969 and ended in 1980. The building contains more than 700 rooms, including the city council offices, the area's largest hotel, a bank and a number of restaurants and offices. The bus station and a car park take up the underground floors.
Hans-Peter-Stoerl Architects were commissioned to refurbish the area in 2001. Their design included lighting of waterfalls used for projecting the local transport logo onto, using 12 CP-Color 150E projectors, controlled by a Pulsar Minipiece 54 control unit. The project was designed with the help of Semperlux S.p.A. from Berlin and is a prime example of how an unattractive underground area can be transformed into a striking and evocative experience.
On another project, also in Germany, Clay Paky fixtures are being used to light the new head office of Krystaltech Lynx, with its futuristic design and floodlit façade designed by Mad Music GmbH. Lighting designer Bernd Wagner gave the Reutling company a brand new look using four projectors: two CP Colors 575 with one V.I.P1200 on the front of the building, and one CP Color 575 on the back. Mad Music managed to complete the lighting system within just a few months of the computer dealer's move to its new head office.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
