Architecture-integrated lighting for the underground
The new underground station Elbbrücken in Hamburg is illuminated by a special solution from NORKA
With the “Elbbrücken” underground and suburban railway station, an impressive station duo has been constructed. It links the new Elbbrücken quarter - currently in development - to the local public transport network. The underground station is situated above ground and is covered by a large, vaulted glass roof. For the illumination of the platforms and the adjacent access lighting design office Conceptlicht chose the MÜNCHEN LED luminaire from NORKA as the basis.
Urban development on the waterfront
Strandkai, Überseequartier, Oberhafen – these are just three of a total of ten quarters in Hamburg Hafencity. Construction work on the completely new district has been underway since 2003 and the western sections have already been largely completed. The eastern section, however, at the end of Baakenhafen, will remain under construction site for a while, as the new Elbbrücken quarter is to be built here by 2025. In order for this quarter to function as an urban business and residential location, Hamburg’s U4 underground line has already been extended here and the new Elbbrücken underground station built.
Dynamic architecture, clear on-site specifications
Since the underground comes above ground in this area in order to cross the Elbe by bridge, the station was also built at a higher level. In keeping with its exposed location, architects Gerkan, Marg & Partners (gmp), together with engineering firm schlaich bergermann partner, have designed an imposing roof construction for the station with projecting spires at both ends. The striking diamonds of the steel construction and the glazing of the 136 metre long, 32 metre wide and 16.25 metre high roof unfold landmark qualities in the urban context. From inside the station, the transparency opens up panoramic views of the river and the city. A raised viewing area can also be found at the south end of one of the platforms.
To keep the design intentions of the architects clear, the technical
Track-side LED luminaires
Jan Nielsen from lighting design office Conceptlicht still remembers the beginnings of the project well: “We began initial planning in 2013, at a time when the use of LED technology – especially in track-side areas – was far from a matter of course. Nevertheless, the client made a conscious decision to use the new technology. Their only condition: The LED luminaires should have a service life of 100,000 hours.”
Against this background. NORKA was able to play two trump cards at once: On the one hand, the company had recognised the opportunities of LED technology very early on and was therefore able to offer not only market-ready LED luminaires, but also the additional guarantee of a service life of 100,000 hours instead of the usual 50,000. On the other hand, NORKA had already illuminated numerous objects for Hamburger Hochbahn, including for example the Überseequartier U4 station. The positive experiences from this long-term partnership strengthened the client’s resolve in their courageous decision for the new semiconductor light sources.
Asymmetric light distribution, robust design
The MÜNCHEN LED luminaire convinced planners and clients both in the lighting calculations and in the on-site sampling. The decisive criteria were that the luminaire family should includes a version with asymmetrical light distribution, as well as the robust design. In the case of MÜNCHEN LED, two LED strings are used as a light source. The optical system combines an internal aluminium reflector and opaque polymer luminaire cover. As a result, the lamps of the luminaires cannot be seen and the individual LED light spots are dissipated into a homogeneous luminous surface.
Consistent integration
With a few exceptions, a MÜNCHEN LED luminaire with asymmetrical light distribution was installed in each cassette of the two-track media strip along the platforms. One track of the continuous row system illuminates the platform, whilst the other lights up the parallel, but somewhat lower access zones. “The installation of the luminaires in the media strip brings the light sources close to the surfaces to be illuminated. In addition, they cannot be reflected in the glass roof from this position, which avoids annoying reflections and glare. A further advantage: the lines of sight remain unobstructed by additional luminaire units,” explains lighting designer Jan Nielsen, who then sums up that the formal integration of the luminaires into the architecture was therefore already well achieved.
survey. Conceptlicht has developed and sampled several versions of the louvre. A variant is now used which additionally limits the beam in the rear part of the luminaire. As a result, a brightening of the balustrades running centrally under the media strip is dampened. The luminous flux of the asymmetrical luminaires is radiated in the direction of the track bed and provides illumination levels on platforms and tracks whose lux values and uniformity are moderately above the standard specifications. Undesirable reflective components in the track bed are reduced by the recessed luminaire system.
Reliable and competent for special solutions
“We have extensive expertise in the lighting of railway stations and track systems. Amongst other similar projects and customers, we have the oldest and most extensive framework contract with Deutsche Bahn, but the close, on-site connection of the luminaires made the Elbbrücken
underground station a special order for us,” comments Jürgen Schoene, who supervised the project for NORKA. NORKA luminaires come with everything that is important for use in this field. In addition to excellent photometric parameters, these features include, for example, high protection ratings and overvoltage protection, energy efficiency and a long service life or protection against vandalism. Beyond its core competence – supplying reliable light even in difficult operating conditions – NORKA was also able to demonstrate reliability, competence and a remarkable speed in the implementation of special solutions at the Elbbrücken underground station. The company organised and handled all production and assembly steps for the louvre and the associated frames and prepared the luminaires for installation into media ducts.
Project: Underground station Elbbrücken, Hamburg
Property owner: Hamburger Hochbahn AG, www.hochbahn.de Construction period: 2016 – 2018
Architects: Gerkan, Marg & Partners (gmp), Hamburg www.gmp-architekten.de
Support structure planning: schlaich bergermann partner sbp gmbh Stuttgart, www.sbp.de
Light planning: Conceptlicht GmbH, Traunreut, www.conceptlicht.com Luminaires: NORKA Hamburg, www.norka.de
NORKA – Light for extreme requirements
The family-owned company NORKA, founded in 1948 and based in Hamburg and Dörverden-Hülsen, specialises in technically sophisticated lighting solutions tailored to very special ambient conditions. The main application areas for NORKA luminaires include industrial and production workshops, train platforms and transport buildings, workshops, multi-storey car parks, façades, port facilities and work pits, as well as washing systems, swimming pools, logistics centres and cold stores. With its new business division for traffic and tunnel lighting, NORKA also offers a broad product portfolio for improving traffic safety. This range includes luminaires for entrance and passage lighting in tunnels, as well as solutions for traffic guidance and the indication of escape routes. NORKA products provide maximum investment security thanks to their long service life, high availability and energy efficiency.
March 2020 / More information:
NORKA AR-PR Norddeutsche Kunststoff- und Elektro- Andrea Rayhrer
gesellschaft Stäcker mbH & Co. KG Kommunikation & Public Relations Marietta Kappler-Kossack Alexanderstraße 126
Weidestraße 122 a D-70180 Stuttgart D-22083 Hamburg T. +49 711 62007838 T. +49 40 513009-12 M. +49 163 5001978 F. +49 40 513009-8012 [email protected] [email protected] / www.norka.de www.ar-pr.de
Underground station Elbbrücken – Photos: NORKA/Günther Fotodesign
01 In keeping with its exposed location, architects Gerkan, Marg & Partners (gmp), together with engineering firm schlaich bergermann partner, have designed an imposing roof construction for the underground station Elbbrücken in Hamburg.
02 For the illumination of the platforms and the adjacent access lighting design office Conceptlicht chose the MÜNCHEN LED luminaire from NORKA as the basis.
04 With a few exceptions, a MÜNCHEN LED luminaire with asymmetrical light distribution was installed in each cassette of the two-track media strip along the platforms.
03 The MÜNCHEN LED luminaires are integrated into an elevated media strip that flanks the entire length of both platforms.
06 As every fourth luminaire is operated as an emergency luminaire, the light in the undergrond station Elbbrücken remains reliably on even in an emergency.
