The Telekom Bridge conveys true lighting innovation

The lighting concept of the newly built Telekom Bridge, designed to connect Deutsche Telekom’s two office headquarters in Bonn, captures the style and technical innovation of Europe’s largest telecommunications company.

Until recently, staff at Deutsche Telekom’s headquarters in Bonn had to risk life and limb dashing across a busy main road and tram lines that lie between the two offices. But a 72-metre long footbridge, constructed by German architect Schlaich, Bergermann and Partner, has solved their problems, while at the same time promoting the brand’s identity and ethos.

As Europe’s largest telecommunications firm and owner of the T-Mobile brand, it was important that Deutsche Telekom’s logo was incorporated into the Telekom Bridge. Licht Kunst Licht designed a media strip spanning the length of the bridge which displays magenta squares taken from the logo across 32 LED video panels.

“We wanted to incorporate video displays flush with the length of the bridge in a way that they would appear as an integral part of the structure, even when switched off,” says Stephan Thiele of Licht Kunst Licht.

Other elements include LED linear profiles in the handrails, lighting a pathway across the bridge with a neutral white light. And LED channels were mounted behind the glass clad elevator towers at either end, backlighting the panels with a grazing white light.

“Our intention was never to use projectors and masts to light the structure from outside or from above, but to let the bridge shine from inside, like a bright object within the darker streetscape,” adds Thiele.

Arguably the most technically impressive aspect of the Telekom Bridge is the interactive nature of these elevator towers. Double-pulse laser sensors hidden beneath the facades detect the presence of anyone walking past, and transfer this data to operating software. This in turn activates warm amber LEDs behind the panel that is closest to the individual.

The distance between the passer-by and the tower determines the light’s intensity, creating the appearance of a ‘light-shadow’ around each person. By coming to a halt or changing direction, people can influence the tower’s lighting and, consequently, the bridge’s overall appearance.

Have your say

You must sign in to make a comment.