THE LOUIS POULSEN MAGAZINE OF LIGHTING AND ARCHITECTURE 2006 583 The University Library, IKMZ, in Cottbus Light and architecture in Edinburgh FDA at Irvine Photo: Anders Sune Berg The library’s landmark quality is as pronounced dur- ing the day as it is at night. Light with a story to tell The IKMZ University Herzog and de Meuron de - Library in Cottbus ployed three different types of lighting in the particularly well-designed library in Cottbus, clearly designating the diffe- rent uses to which the building is put but also telling stories that reach far beyond the merely functional. By PeTer THuLe KristenSen The Swiss design studio Herzog & de signed to provoke thought processes in ascertain, but which nevertheless sug- Meuron is part of the international ar- the user. gest that the building contains informa- chitectural elite. Founded in Basle in This approach also extends to the stu- tion, symbols and signs. The library’s the late 1970s, it has helped put the dio’s new university library, IKMZ, in curved floorplan also sparks the imagi- German-speaking part of Switzerland Cottbus, Germany. This is not just a li- nation, bringing to mind both a crusad- on the world map. Herzog & de Meuron’s brary for a local technical university but er’s castle and a piece of modern de- works rarely resemble traditional build- also a modern landmark that invites sign. In this way the building urges the ings, but rather objects you might find visitors to consider the university’s role visitor to reflect on what a library is to- in a modern art exhibition. Like many in global media and its place in the day, not just in Cottbus, but in the world contemporary visual artists, they are world. The library has reading rooms of new media. preoccupied with the effects certain with large pendants reminiscent of shapes and materials have on our sen- public libraries from the 19th century, The library’s appearance changes radically sory apparatus, for example, the asso- but also has a modern media centre during the day. At daytime, it stands as an ciations awakened by a particular sur- where computer screens, instead of organically shaped monolith. After sunset, face. As a result, their architecture does windows, provide access to digital reflected light from the pink and green sur- faces mixes with the light from the fixtures not just solve particular problems on a rooms. The façade consists of two lay- inside the building. In this way, the build- pragmatic level, but also incorporates ers of glass with large silk-print charac- ing assumes the character of a crystalline a number of layers of meaning, de- ters whose meaning is impossible to and sparkling jewel box. The large chandeliers have been designed specifically for the library by Herzog & de Meuron. The chandeliers are made of a metal band shaped as a large spiral with a diameter of more than two metres. 26 opal glass shades are mounted under the metal band. The spiralled chandelier shape inter- acts with the large, green and magenta spiral staircase. Through their work with shapes, colours, surfaces and lighting, Herzog & de Meuron has achieved a changeable, multi-faceted building rich in narrative. At the same time, the library is highly functional and the dif- ferent reading rooms instil a sense of calm and concentration. At the same time, the library is ex- like shape of which recalls the spiral glass front, and like rays of light in the tremely functional and it’s easy to find motif, 26 opal glass shades are mount- expanded-metal ceiling. It resembles your way around. In this context, the ed at equal intervals. The pendants’ re- the familiar effect achieved when clas- artificial lighting is highly significant. It curring spirals enter into a dialogue sic crystal chandeliers are reflected in indicates extremely clearly the func- with the curved façade, the round func- large mirrors. your thoughts turn to the tion of each particular area, but also tional cores and the large spiral stair- grand reading rooms of 19th-century li- suggests narratives that far exceed the case that, like the library’s green and braries, but you are nevertheless left in purely functional aspect. This lighting magenta leitmotif, connects the many no doubt that Herzog & de Meuron’s concept is implemented in the public staggered floors in the building. pendants belong to the present. For ex- areas with the help of only three types The pendants are suspended from the ample, the angular metal band and the of primary light sources: large pendants ceiling in the library’s double-height thread-like shapes allude to the type of in reading rooms and the entrance areas – both in the ground floor’s spa- technologies associated with a techni- area, AJ lamps on the reading desks cious entrance area and in the many cal university. As a result, the idiom is and downlights over the shelves. reading rooms located along the curved far from unambiguous and has many façade – and convey the message that stories to tell. Light spiral these rooms are particularly important. The pendants were specially designed When the lights in all the shades are Reading lamps and downlights for the library by Herzog & de Meuron. turned on, a lofty atmosphere spreads White AJ Table fixtures designed by the The individual pendants consist of an through the rooms. This is demonstrat- architect Arne Jacobsen have been in- angular metal band shaped into a spiral ed most effectively in the evening, serted into plates on the desks in the with a diameter of over two metres. On when the light is reflected like thou- reading rooms. each tabletop has space the underside of the band, the thread- sands of small illuminated spots on the for four readers but features no particu- The coarsely dotted pattern forming the Also available as a wall and floor fixture, the AJ fixture was originally designed by Arne characters on the glass façade filters and Jacobsen for SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. The conical metal shade is angled to align it subdues daylight to make a pleasant envi- with the socket on top and the bottom of the shade is cut at an angel. The fixture provides ronment in the reading rooms perfect task and reading light. The fixture has a built-in tiltable joint in the tube for individ- ual setting of task light. The AJ fixture directs light where it is needed and the shade provides efficient shading. Site plan Ground floor Section lar delineation between the spaces. its simple, modern idiom fits in well As a result, light becomes an impor- with the rest of the detail in the li- tant marker of individual reading brary, which at no point is overdone space. Normally, the fixture comes or particularly flashy. The result is with a foot, but in this case the tub- that you never get the feeling that ing is inserted directly into the table- the fixture, which was designed in The reading areas of the top so it grows out of the surface – 1957, is almost half a century older almost like a flower. It is glare-free than, for example, the pendants. library are lit by the AJ table and directional, and the adjustment In addition to pendants and AJ fix- fixture. The modern, simple options make it an excellent choice ture, downlights are also used. These expression of the fixture is in as a reading lamp for books of all are inserted into the expanded met- ” sizes. This also means that the lamps al ceiling above the shelves and are harmony with the other de- are never positioned exactly the turned on automatically as you ap- tails of the library, and in spite same way twice, but instead endow proach. The less-than spectacular of its status as a design icon it the room with beautiful variation – design means that the downlights suggesting that the reading desks do not compete with the extrava- does not intrude upon the sur- are populated by people with differ- gant pendants or the sculptural AJ roundings. ent interests. fixtures. The AJ fixture seems inconspicuous in this context, despite its status as a Light and the overall effect design icon. It complements the sub- Because of its printed pattern, the dued colour scheme – bright lami- façade seems neither particularly nated tabletops, white Eames chairs transparent or shiny if you walk and grey needled felt carpets – and around the building’s exterior in the ” AJ Table inserted into in all the library’s work desks. The fixtures are white to match the reading rooms where the colours are subdued in contrast to the rest of the house. daytime. However, from the inside it is have come up with a changeable, mul- modern visual artists, they are also ar- not difficult to see out through the ti-faceted building with many stories to chitects in a classic sense. rough dots that form the characters on tell. At the same time, the different el- the façade. ements merge into one another: the Assistant professor Peter Thule When darkness falls, it is a different pendant’s spiral suits the staircase and Kristensen, MAA, PhD. story, and the building’s landmark func- curved façade, and the AJ fixture suits tion is no less pronounced. The interior the subdued colours of the reading IKMZ BTU Cottbus won the library rooms resemble bright ribbons in the rooms. The result is more than just a award ’Library of the year 2006’ façade, and you can just make out the mass of visual effects, but a carefully of the ZEIT-Foundation and the German coloured spiral staircase, the coloured balanced game that also makes allow- Library Association (DBV).