LAVA: Philips Lighting

LAVA, with partners INBO and JHK, designed the adaptation of the mid 20th century building for the new Philips headquarters. The aim was to design public and work spaces that embrace the innovative, people-centric values of the lighting technology company.

“The atrium, originally the central courtyard of the 1950s building, was designed as a place of welcome, way finding, branding and staff interaction, and therefore had to be strong spatially,” said LAVA director Alexander Rieck. The atrium also brings people together by congregating core activities such as exhibitions, meeting rooms, coffee bar, public talks and staff meetings, and is also the entrance to the new Philips Lighting Application Centre. Staff and visitors are greeted in the central atrium by LAVA’s huge parametrically designed interactive light ‘tree’ comprised of 1500 ‘leaves’, hanging pyramidal panels suspended from the ceiling. The concept is of light filtering through trees. Covering the whole atrium ceiling the sculpture demonstrates the behaviour of light, both natural and artificial: reflection, diffusion and emission.

“It’s a bit like an ecosystem, with light effects turning golden, for example, as an energy boost in the morning,” Alexander Rieck explained. A reflective surface on the back of each panel creates a play of light and shadow. It also filters and reflects natural light from the atrium side windows and skylights. Five hundred panels use self-emitting Philips Ecophon Soundlight – an integral product that consists of comfortable LED lighting with sound absorption in an integrated light and acoustic ceiling system. 

The offices were designed to foster creativity with a more flexible and efficient use of space. Spaces were designed to encourage informal ‘accidental’ interactions, known to be a key enhancer of success in R&D businesses. Special environments were created for different work situations – from concentration to communication, activation to relaxation. Other factors such as variable visual fields, perceived security, acoustics, smell, lighting, materials and textures contribute to an effective and harmonious work environment, which meets the highest standards of the innovative workspace layout WPI (work place innovation). The design was developed using the latest workspace research and Philip’s experience with recent fit-out experiments plus an intensive cycle of interviews and design meetings involving the end users and building management.

Atrium of the Philips Lighting Headquarters, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Design: LAVA / Alexander Rieck, Tobias Wallisser, Chris Bosse
Project Architects: Nuno Galvao, Matthijs la Roi, Stephan Markus Albrecht, Sebastian
Schott, Mariusz Polski
Design Team: Marvin Bratke, Mircea Mogan, Barbora Srpkova, Miroslav Strigac, Diana Schlebe, Rashmi Katkar, Roxelane Guellmeister, Paolo Alborghetti, Ruis Dervishi, Aida Ramirez, Julian Wengzinek, Benjamin Hitscherich, Simone Tchonova, Erik Didar, Jeroen van Lith, David Stieler
Design development: INBO, JHK
Lighting consultant: Beersnielsen, LiAS
Construction: Heijmans