ETH Campus Hönggerberg Outdoor lighting

The campus around the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s (ETHZ) Hönggerberg links the departments of the university and serves as a recreational area for students and teachers alike.

In 2011, the decision was made to replace the lighting on campus. Energy efficiency and the reduction of light pollution were important factors in meeting the requirements of the ETHZ`s sustainability concept. The development and implementation of Plan Lumière was carried out by lighting designer Reto Marty and his team from nachtaktiv.

The proposal to use LED technology for this project was accepted with slight hesitation because it was still in its early stages. Today, the decision to use LED technology has clearly proven to be the right one for the ETHZ. One of the results was the 70% decrease of the overall energy consumption, even with 40 additional lights on the campus. In addition, LEDs allow more precise lighting than conventional lighting and create less light pollution as well as better colour rendering. This not only improves traffic safety, but also the visitor`s personal feeling of safety.

Reto Marty and his team chose to use various LED lamp poles and posts for the campus as well as the newly developed LED lamp called “wohnraum”. It was produced in collaboration with BURRI public elements and creates a comfortable ambience due to the familiar shape and soft light diffusion. The ETHZ campus can now offer students a place to enjoy long summer nights thanks to the “wohnraum” lights.

BURRI’s extensive experience with people and materials in public spaces were crucial in developing the LED lamps. Despite their elegant design, the “wohnraum” lamps are very durable and will meet the high demands of outdoor spaces for many years to come.

ETH Zürich

Architekt/Designer vom Produkt: Reto Marty, Dipl. Architekt FH/Lichtdesigner SLG
Firmenname von Architekt/Designer: nachtaktiv