STADTBAHN KARLSRUHE: 1 COMPETITION WON – 7 STATIONS – 15 YEARS’
CONSTRUCTION TIME – OPENING AUTUMN 2021
As part of an urban planning project, the city of Karlsruhe decided to build a series of seven under-
ground stations for the tramway in the city centre. For the competition in 2005, Ingo Maurer and
Allmann Sattler Wappner architects developed a concept that combines a harmonious interplay of
calming spatial architecture and playful light installation.
The idea for the design was triggered by the image of the overhead catenary lines disappearing to a
vanishing point you see when entering large railway stations, hence Ingo Maurer and team proposed
a network of tensioned steel cables that forms the supporting structure for the linear luminaires.
By way of an entertaining lighting effect, the concept also involves the passenger. The light beams
of red, blue, and green spots merge to form white cones of light that shine onto the platform. When
a passenger passes one of the cones, coloured shadows appear on the floor magically, inviting the
waiting passengers to play with the light.
The access areas were illuminated with conical recessed ceiling spotlights offset from the platforms.
The apparently random placement of the spotlights deliberately contrasts with the grid used on the
platform level.
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Model to represent the final composition,
arrangement and number of luminaires
during the implementation planning phase.
First model from the competition
phase in 2005
Coloured shadows
