Located in the city of Stuttgart, the Gerber Mall is a 25,000 square meter space with more than 86 shops. Lightness, clarity, and sophisticated minimalism are the well-balanced tunes for the interior design of the mall, and these themes go hand in hand with the lighting design. “Sleek and futuristic, with astonishingly unbroken illuminated surfaces and a highly graphic conceptualization,” one judge said of the project. “The lighting successfully fills the entire mall with glow and electric energy. The lighting evokes a sense of movement and flow. A rewarding implementation of high contrast to create depth and enhance form.” The brief offered many challenges, each one a question answered by the elegant lighting solution. How to minimize the visual weight of a one meter high ceiling package, filled with ducts and technical features? Illuminate the white flanks of the generous ceiling openings: glare-free, easy, and cool. How to create a dynamic, thrilling spatial experience with a truly clean ceiling? Almost everything has been integrated into a recessed, matte black channel system: lights (both architectural and temporary event track lighting), HVAC outlets, sprinklers, loudspeakers, cameras, security lighting, and more. Thirty-one LED rings were designed especially for the project, and showcased as a corporate design theme at all entrance areas. In the basement, the rings are integrated in the ceiling; in the other entrances, they are freely suspended up above. The “hula hoop” of ten rings is the only installation with an RGB system, intended only for special events. The glowing escalators are key lighting objects in the space, contrasting beautifully with the dark grey profiles of shop facades. Glare-reduced, honeycombed metal-halide spots enhance and dot the walking rhythm within the public space, generating a pleasant contrast to ambient light. “I loved the simple and futuristic design of this shopping mall,” another judge shared. “With every decision, the elegant lighting solutions furthered the design’s intention.” Above the top floor, a huge sky light allows the daylight to illuminate the enormous space. To hide the frames, the interior architects designed a system of white baffles. At night, a blue LED strip transforms the entire skylight into a magical lighting object. LIGHTING DESIGN GERD PFARRÉ, FIALD DOMINIK BUHL ULRIKE MAEDER ALAN AL-SALIHI PFARRÉ LIGHTING DESIGN ADDITIONAL CREDITS ARCHITECTURE QUARTIER "S" EPA PLANUNGSGRUPPE BERND ALBERS INTERIOR DESIGN IPPOLITO FLEITZ GROUP GMBH PHOTOGRAPHY © SANDER & BASTIAN

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