SUPPORTING ROLE

Unobtrusively creating optimum light conditions, while the design concept takes centre stage. WE-EF downlights perform this function to perfection in the new “Museumsinsel” underground station in Berlin, as the fascinating “starry sky” ceiling wouldn’t be possible without the additional glare-free platform lighting.

The “Museumsinsel” underground station as well as the new stations, “Rotes Rathaus” and “Unter den Linden”, complete the U5 underground line, filling the gap between Brandenburger Tor and Alexanderplatz. The Museumsinsel station defines a whole new place in the cultural heart of Berlin – the 180-metre-long station runs south of the Schlossbrücke bridge under the Spree Canal and serves as an underground entrée to the city’s most important cultural institutions. The architectural theme of the underground station was inspired by the lack of natural light underground – eternal night.

A famous role model

When developing the spatial and lighting concept for the two arched platform tunnels, the architecture firm Max Dudler took its cue from a famous role model: the historic stage set designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in 1816 for the Mozart opera “The Magic Flute”. Bright ultramarine blue and 6,662 brilliant points of light now make the vaults shine like a starry sky. A fascinating eye-catcher – but, of course, not sufficient to provide safe and pleasant platform lighting in compliance with standards. This is why a functional lighting component was added to the decorative elements – the planners arranged a continuous row of WE-EF DOC220 recessed ceiling luminaires above the edge of the platform. Despite the asymmetrical position in the vault, the recessed housing and a special fitting ring enable vertical installation in the ceiling structure made of steel and plasterboard.

Important: Optimal glare protection

Thanks to their recessed installation and dark light optics, the downlights with wide beam distribution feature excellent glare control. This increases visual comfort for the passengers on the platforms, and especially for the train drivers – as tested and confirmed by the transport authority Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe in an advance mock-up. At 3,000 K, the light colour of the WE-EF downlights was co-ordinated with the other components of the lighting concept.

The planners developed a further, equally functional and creative, lighting solution with WE-EF technology for the above-ground station entrance. Unlike most Berlin underground stations, here there was no light portal with the underground symbol and the name of the station, but instead an open entrance with a granite parapet. Linear surface-mounted wall luminaires from WE-EF’s VLR100 series are fitted into this parapet in transparent, covered wall boxes. With wall wash light distribution, the asymmetric beam pushes light downwards into the entrance.

Project data

Architect: Max Dudler Berlin
Light planning: Thomas Spreen/High Light, Berlin
Location: Museumsinsel, D-10178 Berlin
Principal: BVG Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe
Construction period: 1998–2020
Construction volume: Gross area 4,600 m²
Photos: Frieder Blickle