FUNCTIONAL LANDMARK
Since 2001, the Jan Schaeferbrug bridge has connected Java Island in Amsterdam’s east harbour with the mainland. While this district has seen vibrant development since that time, the ravages of time took their toll on the bridge’s lighting. However, the bridge has now been given new lighting – with customised LED technology from WE-EF.
The bridge, named after Amsterdam politician Jan Schaefer, still has a modern appearance. The angular steel structure of the low bridge spans 230 metres across the Ijhaven docking basin. Slender tubular supports carry the separate lanes for cars, cyclists and pedestrians. However, after 20 years the lighting system recently reached the end of its lifetime and maintenance costs for the conventional light sources kept rising. This is why the city of Amsterdam commissioned lighting designer Hugo Hendrickx to convert the system to energy-efficient LED technology. Hendrickx is very familiar with the project as he worked closely in the office partnership Lichtontwerpers.nl with Kees van de Lagemaat, who developed the original lighting concept.
Functional and attractive
The original lighting design considered more than just functional aspects, such as traffic safety. It showcased the bridge by additionally illuminating the underside and adding coloured accents that made it a landmark. To emphasise the low, elongated silhouette, the lighting was not installed on masts, but rather in the base, the parapets and special recessed housings at the edge of the carriageway. The client wanted to continue to use these installation spaces with suitable new luminaires. WE-EF was chosen for the project as it is an expert in LED lighting in urban spaces and has flexibility for implementing special lighting constructions. The new lighting meets all the client’s requirements – high lighting quality, no need for maintenance and energy efficiency for low operating costs on a long-term basis.
Contrasting light colours
The underside of the bridge is now illuminated with a total of 48 ETC140-GB inground luminaires with gimbal-mounted, medium-beam optics. The luminaires are installed at the base of the circular columns in the bridge piers and their neutral white light (4000 K) emphasises the technical character of the bridge construction. Four FLC230 projectors with blue LEDs and wallwash optics also mark each of the bridge heads. More than 60 modified FLC230 projectors with the asymmetric flood wallwash optic and LEDs with a colour temperature of 4000K illuminate the lane for cars at the edge of the carriageway. They are mounted in the existing housings and feature anti-glare shields. More than 100 gimbal-mounted inground luminaires based on type ETC330-GB with a colour temperature of 3000 K provide a contrast. Installed along the lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, they use the steel kerbs as secondary reflectors. In addition, DOC120 recessed ceiling luminaires with a colour temperature of 3000 K are fitted on the underside of the bridge to illuminate the quays below.
Efficient and aesthetically pleasing
Jan Schaeferbrug bridge now looks even more impressive, clearer and more nuanced at night than when it opened two decades ago – and it uses around 75 per cent less energy. The partnership with WE-EF enabled the new lighting to be realised in a short period without compromising product quality or lighting quality. Needless to say, luminaires from WE-EF that are modified for specific projects are produced, tested and protected against the effects of weather just as thoroughly as the production models. “Now the bridge shines again as intended 20 years ago”, enthuses Hugo Hendrickx: “The rhythm of the lighting has been restored, the light colour contrasts are just right – and the bridge contributes to making the city of Amsterdam look both impressive and inviting at night.”
Projectdata
Completion: 2020
Architect: Ton Venhoeven, VenhoevenCS, Amsterdam
Lighting design: Lichtontwerpers.nl, Kees van de Lagemaat, Hugo Hendrickx
Fitter: Speer Infra B.V.