Light years ahead: Occhio

'Quality of light is quality of life': Designer and entrepreneur Axel Meise knows exactly how elementary light is for people, and it is why quality is one of the central values of Occhio, the lighting company which he founded. This applies not only to the design and workmanship of the products, but also to the light itself. 'With light we create mood and atmosphere', says Meise. For his Occhio luminaires, he has taken the best light of all as his inspiration: sunlight. And thanks to the latest LED technology, it comes pretty close to the real thing.

Occhio's unconditional quality standards are complemented by two other values: intelligence and uniqueness. Intelligence because only if it is used intelligently can their light show its true qualities – its adaptiveness to each respective situation, how it is holistically thought through as a system, and of course its innovative quality, for example in the operation of the luminaires via a smart control system. And the Munich-based company also stands for uniqueness: 'It must be something special, it should be a pleasure to use Occhio products,' remarks Meise.

These values are on display on every architectural project which utilises their luminaires. Some completely new projects of Occhio this year, for example, include two Munich locations of coworking space provider Design Offices, namely the Atlas office complex and the Sky Tower. In the common rooms of the Atlas, the ring-shaped Mito sospeso pendant luminaire is utilised, suspended from uncovered, raw ceilings.

The Occhio planners were able to deal intelligently with the control system situation: the flexible walls of the design offices were not wired, so it was out of the question to control the light with switches. Here the innovative Occhio air technology presented the right solution, whereby all luminaires are controlled by an app or via a controller. So whether switching, dimming or adjusting the light colour, Occhio air makes this playfully possible.

In Bora's new administration building in Niederndorf, Austria, architecture is front and centre, with its high-contrast combination of large glass surfaces, regional larchwood shingles and concrete. It was Occhio's task to set special lighting accents in the furnishings of show kitchens, catering areas and relaxation rooms. Bora, an Austrian firm who have reinvented the cooker-top extractor fan and are also following their own path in kitchen design, were looking for a company as equally innovation driven as themselves and in Occhio they found it.

The perfect solution for Bora was Mito sospeso in various diameters and in two surfaces: rose gold and matt black. The elegant luminaires give the rooms liveliness – without disturbing the eye. In order to achieve a high-quality lighting experience, Occhio programmed the luminaires so that their operation could be integrated into the existing building control system. For a pleasant atmosphere, the lighting is also sensitive to changes in daylight: the light temperature adjusts continuously – from 2700K in the morning to its peak of 4000K at midday – before reducing once again to a relaxing 2700K towards the end of the day.

Another Occhio project featuring unusual architecture is a residential building in Passau, built by Koeberl Doeringer Architects. The house, in a spectacular location above the Inn River, consists entirely of rough, exposed, concrete formwork, and is also coloured black on the inside. The Occhio luminaires prove to be a congenial response to this strong architectural language. Più alto spotlights, which form the basis of the building’s lighting, cast their characteristic cone of light over the raw concrete walls, creating a lively interplay of light and texture.

The arc luminaires from the Mito series and the pendant luminaire from the Mito linear series contribute a certain extra element of design. The luminaires not only perfectly complement the reduced interior of the concrete building, with the enveloping glow of their warm light, they also create a harmonious atmosphere and that special feeling of security that makes a house a home.

These architectural projects show how Occhio confidently translates its values of quality, intelligence and uniqueness into its products and lighting design solutions.

© Architonic