The Challenge:

The interior design of this five-star hotel in Berlin included the entrance, bar and restaurant area. The concept was to follow two main design inspirations: The German Bauhaus design style as well as a 'zoo' theme. The latter caused by the proximity to The Berlin Zoo. A volumetric three-dimensional light sculpture became the key interior design element and translated into an 18 m wide and 10 m deep 3D LED installation comprising of nearly 900 custom-designed 360-degree viewable LED tubes made by eFour Media Architecture with a high-quality architectural finish. Content for the volumetric LED install with individually controllable pixels is generated and scheduled using a MADRIX server.

The Solution:

Content for the 3D light sculpture had to include the main architectural design theme of the animal and zoo elements. Additionally, the various lighting scenes change during the course of the year following the seasons as well as Christmas time. Intensity and dynamics of the content also vary throughout the day. Due to the entire installation running 24/7 and it being totally independent, the playback system incorporates an astronomic clock as well as a true calendar function allowing auto-calculations of start dates of the seasonal content and events for every new calendar year. In its final programming, the three-dimensional install displays grass fields with butterflies, fish swimming in waves of water, falling leaves in autumn, as well as snowflakes, sparkles and burning candles during the festive seasons. A special 'highlight scene' is presented every evening at 7 PM showing the metamorphoses of animals, during which guests enjoy being enveloped by images of snakes, fish, zebras and even elephants via the 3D sculpture.

The Result:

The project is a pristine example of how urban elements, state-of-the-art technology and innovative content creation culminate in a one-of-a-kind viewer experience.

Key Project Facts:

TECHNOLOGY USED: 900 custom designed 360-degree viewable LED tubes made by eFour in a high-quality architectural finish

CLIENT: Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof

INTERIOR DESIGN: Sundukovy Sisters

LIGHTING CONSULTANT: Kardorff Ingenieure