On behalf of the Archdiocese of Cologne, renowned Stuttgart architectural firm LRO (Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei) has constructed a new building in Cologne’s Lindenthal district that extends several of the diocese’s educational facilities – including the Archiepiscopal Music School of the Cologne Cathedral Choir, whose indoor and outdoor areas now shine in BEGA light.
A three-part extension, which on one side adjoins the famous “Christi Auferstehung” church by architect Gottfried Böhm, was completed on the approximately 3000-square-metre site. In addition to technical areas and storage areas, kitchen and sanitary facilities, an underground car park and ten residential units, the new structures primarily house practice rooms for musical education. The Cologne Cathedral choir practises in four large rehearsal halls and 26 so-called practice cells.
BEGA ceiling and wall luminaires are used in the rehearsal rooms as well as in the staircase and corridors. These luminaires feature hand-blown opal glass through which soft, unshielded light illuminates the rooms for a clean and comfortable atmosphere. The round design of the luminaires blends harmoniously into the overall architectural picture and emphasises the soft, curved design, which is also evident in the round skylights and round glass windows in the doors.
Only glare-free light is used in the outdoor area of the new building. Namely BEGA bollards, which illuminate both the adjacent footpaths and green areas with a light emission of 360 degrees. They are also DALI-controllable, as are the BEGA wall luminaires mounted between the floor-to-ceiling windows. Their light emerges on two sides and uses the installation surface as a reflection surface. This combination of direct and reflected light creates a glare-free lighting atmosphere with pleasant visual comfort.
The extension includes a single-storey central refectory, which can also be used as an additional space for events. The refectory’s window front stands out visually with striking arched windows, which are set off by BEGA stainless steel in-ground luminaires. The compact LED luminaires are subtly set into the wooden terrace in front of the refectory and create aesthetic lighting effects on the curved window frontage with their symmetrical light distribution.
Client Archdiocese of Cologne, General Vicariate Building Department, Cologne Architects LRO Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei, Stuttgart Project management Drees & Sommer Köln GmbH
