With the special area The Living Light – where Design and Technology Shape the Future, light becomes more than a technical solution: it becomes experiential, tangible and meaningful. In Hall 3.1, an atmospheric journey leads visitors through four distinct areas, each illustrating how light influences our everyday lives. The installation is being developed by Lichtvision Design on behalf of Light + Building.
The curatorial direction is led by Carla Wilkins, Senior Partner and Global Creative Director at Lichtvision Design Berlin. The international lighting design studio operates from four locations: Berlin, London, Shanghai and Hongkong. Each location is responsible for one of the four thematic areas of the special exhibition: Home, Education, Work and Communication. This approach creates a rich, multi-layered overall experience shaped by different cultural perspectives, working methods and design approaches. The four key themes guide visitors through various areas of life and are connected by the Green Spine – a moss wall scenographically illuminated by light.
“With The Living Light, we want to demonstrate that light is far more than illumination. Light is a living design element that addresses our emotions, motivates us and connects us with one another. When technology is used intelligently and embedded within a holistic overall concept, light can enhance every moment of our daily lives.”
Home – the emotional starting point of everyday life
In the Home area, light can be experienced as a personal companion. It adapts to times of day, moods and individual needs. Various lighting scenes simulate the course of a day: from calm, warm morning light through activating midday moments to subdued light and complete darkness in the evening. Visitors can actively influence the lighting atmosphere and experience how light creates a sense of security, calm and wellbeing.
Education – motivation and health in focus
Learning is an individual process, and light plays a crucial role in it. The Education area demonstrates, through four central spatial scenarios, how lighting supports different learning types: from playful and active settings to digital learning environments and disruptive learning formats with specific health-related requirements. With the right lighting settings, motivation can be increased and sensory overload reduced.
Work – the working day over time
In the Work area, light takes on a narrative function. A geometric, almost clinical space symbolises the phases of a working day: focused work in the morning, mental drifting around midday, increasing pressure and acceleration in the afternoon, and a conscious return to calm in the evening. Rhythm, intensity and light colour make these states immediately perceptible.
Communication – the connection between light and movement
The Communication area shows how light, sensor technology and interaction work together. Here, the lighting responds dynamically to visitors’ movements, transforming the space in real time. The installation illustrates how networked lighting systems encourage communication, enable interaction and bring spaces to life.
