The lighting design for the Cologne University Foundation’s startup center was created by arens faulhaber lichtplaner, while the architecture and interior design were handled by kadawittfeldarchitektur. The award was presented on June 6 at the Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen.
The “InnoDom” startup center communicates its unconventional and diverse uses to the wider Cologne urban landscape, particularly after dark. Two two-story, staged, monochromatic spaces with panoramic glazing resemble stage sets and, like storefront windows, showcase the work and experimentation taking place inside.
Inside, the technical systems are openly routed beneath the concrete ceilings; the guiding theme of the lighting design is wayfinding. On the ground floor, these lines guide visitors from the lobby to the cafeteria and meeting rooms. In this way, they also help create a sense of the open spatial sequences as a continuum. On the upper floors, they are supplemented by desk-mounted task lights. Users can adjust these individually, and at the same time, they support the concept of an open, flexible workspace.