Successfully refreshed with customised lighting solutions
The new lighting for the ‘Philharmonie’ underground station in Essen
When it opened in 1967, the Philharmonie underground station was the first of its kind not only in Essen, but in the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia – and is now shining again – barrier-free access, up to date safety standards and with fresh lighting. The lighting comes from WE-EF. It is highly efficient thanks to LED technology and is perfectly adapted to the structural conditions with customised modifications to the standard luminaires.
The fact that something has changed at the Philharmonie underground station can already be seen above-ground: The two striking cubes made of tinted glass on either side of Huyssenallee, which make the station accessible by elevator. The four staircases have also been redesigned, with natural stone cladding and new lighting with WE-EF PFL540 LED pole-mounted luminaires. The poles are integrated into the metal railings around the staircases. With side-light distributions, the luminaires emphasise the staircases as islands of light from the surroundings. The uniform illumination of the stairs ensures optimum visibility and a feeling of safety when entering the station.
Attractive technical aesthetics
An underground level provides access to the two platforms for the underground and trams. For fire safety reasons, ceiling panelling was removed during the renovation, and luminaires and cables are now mounted directly on the concrete structure – an unusual but attractive technical aesthetic. Here, the planners used WE-EF DAC220 LED surface-mounted ceiling luminaires with symmetric wide-beam characteristics. The timeless cylindrical shape of these robust luminaires creates a pleasant haven of peace in the complex ceiling design. The lateral cable entry is a modification of the standard luminaires. WE-EF supplied a customised solution for the sloping concrete surfaces directly above the staircases – in the form of precisely fitting mounting adapters bevelled by 28 degrees.
Customised installation solutions
The escalators to the platforms were enclosed with a glass wall as part of the fire protection measures. In this situation, WE-EF was once again able to contribute its flexibility and expertise for project-specific solutions: The circular CFS540 LED luminaires are normally tended for streets and squares – but instead of being mounted on upright poles, here they are suspended from the ceiling above the escalators using a special mounting flange and pendant rods. Another individual accent is made by gobo projections as markings on the platforms, created with the help of powerful FLC230 LED projectors.
Safety and efficiency are key
WE-EF also fulfilled the special wishes of Ruhrbahn GmbH as the client when it came to the lighting technology and the control gear used. LED modules with a cool white colour temperature of 5000 K are used throughout. For passengers, this creates a seamless transition from daylight to the underground and has a fresh and energising effect. The higher luminous efficacy as well as the higher subjective impression of brightness of this light colour support the efficiency targets of the operators. DALI control gear with an emergency lighting function also makes it possible to switch the WE-EF luminaires to the battery power supply via backup circuits at lightning speed – for example in the event of a power failure – because safety is, of course, a top priority in transport buildings such as underground stations.
Project: Underground Station Philharmonie, Essen
Client: Ruhrbahn GmbH, Essen
Completion: 2021
Photos: Frieder Blickle für WE-EF