AIT Award "Best in Interior and Architecture 2016"

The lighting for the “Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt" in Hamburg, Germany distinguishes flexible realms within a historical building to provide an unforgettable theater experience.

The challenge for the lighting design was to support an open construction design while referencing the historical architecture. In contrast with most theatres, the auditorium, the foyer and the bars are combined into a single open space without separation via partition walls and suspended ceilings.

Lighting scenes were created to differentiate functional areas, guide visitors intuitively and create the appropriate mood throughout the performance visit. A highly intuitive and flexible interface was designed to allow modifications by theatre staff to the lighting scenes.

Color temperature played a significant role in the lighting concept. Bright white lights in cool colors (6000K) are used in the foyer for increased visibility at a distance. The industrial character of the lighting is designed not only to guide visitors but also to make a statement: this theatre is different! As visitors step deeper into the theatre, the atmosphere becomes more colorful, warm and dim. Due to the unique open space, the architectural lighting functions as an extension of the show.

A special fixture was developed for the project. The linear lighting element evokes the industrial context of the surroundings whilst employing modern LED technology to reduce energy usage. The lighting element repeats throughout the project using different arrangements. Unique lighting atmospheres are assembled from subtle modifications in dimension, lighting effect and color temperature ensuring coherence for the overall space.

The lighting scheme includes state of the art DMX control gear to modify color, intensity and position as an integral part of the architecture. A custom touch-panel interface provides access to pre-programmed scenes and individual lighting elements. Additional functionality was provided to integrate the architectural lighting directly into the production controls, enabling the different spaces to be blended seamlessly.

With a clear design, custom luminaires and flexible set of controls, the lighting design for this unique theater location is certain to surprise and delight visitors for years to come.