» Light does not simply
come down to a choice
between bright and dark.«
Uwe Binnberg
develops projects – from the selection
of a location to the idea, design and
management of all participating trades.
An interview with Uwe Binnberg,
project developer of the Gabrielenlofts
Mr. Binnberg, at what point do you start thinking about light when
you design a room?
Uwe Binnberg That starts quite early in the process. My rooms and wor-
king spaces have to be functional as well as being welcoming spaces.
This is why we have to take care of all of the technical requirements while
a building is still just a shell. Different light systems can be used, depen-
ding on the wishes of tenants and customers. Finding individual solutions
is frequently critical, particularly when you are talking about light.
Why?
Uwe Binnberg As we know, people experience light in different ways:
what may be too bright to one person, will be too dark to another. It’s the
same with light color: warm light for the evening, cooler light for the day,
that goes without saying. But how we experience this differs from person
to person, too. This is why it makes sense to have individual lighting at
each workstation to complement the general lighting used in a room.
As I said earlier: people should feel at home in the rooms I design for them.
What do you expect from luminaires?
Uwe Binnberg When it comes to luminaires, I’m just as straightforward as
I am demanding: their design and function have to meet my requirements.
I love the many different features that Occhio offers. Light is more than
just a choice between bright and dark – by changing the light color to be
cooler or warmer, always oriented toward natural light.
One of my wishes for future projects would be for luminaires that automa-
tically change their light color as the day progresses. After all, people get
caught up in what they are doing at work and forget to adjust the light.
But I have also heard that Occhio already has a few of such solutions that
have made this dream come true. I’ll talk to Axel Meise about it the next
time I see him … (laughs)
» People should feel
at home in the rooms
I design for them.«
Uwe Binnberg
CEO – Office Uwe Binnberg
Gabrielenlofts Munich
The man behind the concept
13