Underground Station "Rotes Rathaus", Berlin

A striking Composition in black and white

Transport projects take a long time to complete and need reliable partners. For example, it took more than ten years from the planning to the opening of the extension of Berlin's underground line number 5. However, the result is worth it – the new underground station, "Rotes Rathaus", looks even more impressive than on the plans, not least due to lighting from WE-EF.

The underground station at the seat of Berlin's state government celebrates the importance of this place for the city – with clear, spacious and prestigious architecture. The gleaming white floors and ceilings, the dark, subtly sparkling walls made of polished concrete and the striking flared columns are a sight to behold; they can be viewed best from the glazed gallery between the two platforms. The short escalator ride through the anthracite-coloured stairwell subsequently heightens the dramatic effect of stepping back into the light of the hall. There are no complex technical structures to detract from the feeling of spaciousness; the lighting designers from Licht-Kunst-Licht developed a lighting concept using only downlights integrated into the concrete ceilings. The reflection from the white floors and ceilings produces the desired, pure lighting effect – with a high level of visual comfort for the users. The ends of the platforms are each marked by pairs of inground luminaires.

The lighting solution is simple and elegant. The recessed luminaires from WE-EF are  lined up like a string of pearls, with a precise installation setting the luminaire back a few centimetres into the ceiling surface. Yet the construction process was anything but easy. The station was built using the "cut-and-cover top-down" construction method. To start with, side diaphragm walls, a waterproof floor and the later ceiling of the station were constructed in concrete. The construction workers then excavated the later platform hall under the protection of this "cover".

The concrete installation light housings were therefore mounted at a very early stage of the project. WE-EF delivered the customised modified housings in 2013. Together with WE-EF, the planners opted for future-proof LEDs right from the start, thanks to their advantages such as zero maintenance and simple integration of emergency lighting. In 2017, the luminaires were delivered and installed – and thanks to the advances made in LEDs, their efficiency and light quality exceeded all expectations. The new U5 line officially started operation in December 2020.

A total of 70 DOC240 recessed ceiling luminaires have been installed above the platforms of the new station. With 24 LEDs in warm white (3000 K) and a connected wattage of 48 W, they produce a symmetrical medium-beam light distribution. In addition, there are more than 100 DOC220 recessed luminaires with 12 LEDs and symmetrical medium-beam optics in the areas with lower ceiling heights. ETC140 inground luminaires with 24 LEDs of 3000 K are installed at the ends of the platforms and feature a non-slip "ASC" coating in accordance with DIN 51130.

Credits

Length: 140 metres Depth: Up to 16 metres Platform depth: 7 metres Dimensions of the flared support heads: 7 x 9 metres Area: 8,000 square metres Converted space: 58,400 cubic metres Reinforcement: 6900 tons Roncrete: 41,750 cubic metres Client: Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) Architect: Collignon Architektur und Design GmbH, Berlin Executing company shell and finishing: PORR GmbH & Co. KGaA  Light planning: Licht-Kunst-Licht AG, Bonn/Berlin/Barcelona