Individual lighting for the living neighborhood – Postbyen in Copenhagen
The Copenhagen neighborhood previously known as "Postgrunden" has been completely redesigned—and in the process received an all-new lighting system, as well as a new name: Postbyen. The vision of the developers Danica Ejendomme is to make Postbyen the most attractive neighborhood in Denmark, focusing on lifestyle, sustainability, health and quality. This is where city life, business and residential buildings meet—and just three minutes away is Copenhgagen’s main train station!
Postbyen’s design concept is based on natural architectural forms, aesthetic links with nature, and materials like wood, COR-TEN steel, hot-dip galvanized steel and brass—inspired by its immediate industrial surroundings. For the new lighting concept, Danish lighting design studio fortheloveoflight and project manager Nicolaj Birkelund required each luminaire to adapt to its ever-growing and evolving surroundings, time of the day, and seasonal changes. To do this, the luminaire emits three types of light: functional downlight—a lantern effect with a grazing uplight—as well as two projector spotlights.
The solution, developed in workshops together with lighting designers and architects, was a completely customized product from pole luminaire to pole top luminaire. The cylindrical, ribbed luminaire body consists of a metal basket hand-forged by ewo, and a sturdy, hand-blown Danish glass that complies with all European safety guidelines. It holds three luminaires that provide different light emissions. The sleek and architectural pole houses several drivers. The entire lighting system is DALI-controlled, so it can play out different dimming and lighting scenes, making this project an excellent showcase of smart lighting in public places.
“Imagine a light fixture that introduces the idea of a light performance. This is the idea and vision behind the Parklight. The beautifully crafted luminaire acts both as a transformer of space and a performer in the dark hours. This light fixture becomes a sculptural element that, through its multi-layered light and control, embraces the night, sculpts the surroundings and creates space for people. A luminaire that reflects the past in its materiality, the present in its vision.“
Nikolaj Birkelund, CEO fortheloveoflight
We were able to impress the client not only with our flexibility and the creation of several prototypes, with excellent project management and an individual lighting solution—but above all with our vision “empowering wellbeing outdoors”. This reflects the conviction of the client and the lighting designers, and thus everyone involved in the Postbyen project.
Client: City of Copenaghen
Partner: anker&co, fortheloveoflight, Lundgaard & Tranberg Architekten
Product: ewoIndividual
Completion date: 2023