Refurbishment of existing buildings - LTS luminaires in the Zeppelin Museum

AVIATION meets LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
Two ground-breaking inventions start to shine

LTS Licht & Leuchten GmbH had the privilege of supplying the luminaires for the new lighting solution in the Zeppelin Museum. The old, conventional and power-guzzling fluorescent lamps were removed and replaced by new, energy-saving and sustainable LED lamps from LTS. Thanks to the easily adjustable Ala lighting strip system from LTS, the museum was able to execute the upgrade completely on their own. Keeping premium quality lighting in the Zeppelin Museum and providing a resource-friendly and more efficient solution at the same time was LTS’s highest priority.

Changing over to high-quality LED lighting without having to modify the existing ceiling structure allowed the Zeppelin Museum to install suitable lighting in all areas without having to choose between an excellent visual experience and the preservation of the artefacts presented.

State-of-the-art lighting solutions make historic exhibits shine

The Zeppelin Museum is located directly on the shores of Lake Constance and is housed in the historic, listed former harbour station which was put into operation in 1933. The museum has a floor space of more than 4,000 m2 and features the most important and comprehensive collection that includes all aspects related to airship aviation worldwide, from its beginning to the present day. The 33m long accessible partial reconstruction of the LZ 129 Hindenburg is the highlight of the exhibition. The collection focuses on Zeppelin airships but also presents the development of Parseval and Schütte Lanz airships or the simultaneous developments in France, the UK, Italy or the US. It includes large-scale technical objects, mostly airship fragments, such as structures, propellers, gondolas, high-altitude engines, gearboxes etc. The historic exhibits are complemented by design documents, technical drawings, personal bequests, posters, postcards, newspaper articles, photos or other proof of the aerophilately and much more.

Project objective and challenges:

• Renovation of the existing lighting solution in the Zeppelin
• Integration of LED lights in the complex ceiling structure
• Adaptation of all lighting modules to the existing Siemens rail profile for seamless integration
• No modification of the luminous glass ceiling
• Fulfilment of funding criteria of Federal Grant Programme for Efficient Buildings by using state-of-the-art lighting technology
• Installation of innovative and sustainable LTS luminaires that guarantee highest efficiency and the related energy savings

All goals listed above were met. The well-conceived lighting concept contributes to the better visibility of the exhibits and creates an optimal environment where visitors can experience the pioneering work of Ferdinand von Zeppelin and the era of airship aviation up close in the best light.

Visual effects in the entrance area

The entrance hall

The foyer of the Zeppelin Museum is a former station which is illuminated by a milk glass ceiling. This entrance hall exhibits a Zeppelin gondola and provides for an impressive introduction to the world of aviation.

Behind the historic, suspended coffered ceiling made of glass you can now find state-of-the-art lighting technology: the linear Ala light inserts from LTS Licht & Leuchten GmbH. Ala is an innovative, well-conceived lighting strip system for flexible application. A simple yet highly effective architectural lighting solution. Existing lighting strip systems, common fluorescent lamps in this case, can be professionally and quickly renovated using Ala. The simple retrofitting of the light inserts is guaranteed because Ala from LTS can be adapted to all commercially available lighting strip systems. This gives Ala a great advantage, because it can be easily mounted to the existing rail profiles.

In addition, the lighting strip system features the ideal distance to the ceiling so that no LED light spots are visible through the glass roof. The satin-finished glass elements also contribute to an even and soft light distribution. This creates the illusion of daylight with a bright sky shining over the entrance hall. This visual effect remains unchanged when one comes in from the outside, but the output of the luminaires is significantly higher. The Ala lighting strip system offers excellent efficiency of more than 140 lm/W ensuring optimal lighting.

With a reduced power consumption and better luminous efficacy, Ala is a forward-looking and sustainable lighting solution for the museum.

What makes the Zeppelin Museum entrance hall so special is the fact that all 130 Ala light inserts can shine in different light colours. The use of TWPI and controllability via Casambi provide flexible adjustment options and particular artistic freedom to set the light. Light can now transform the atmosphere in the museum depending on the occasion by using different light colours and brightness. The light control system is easy to operate and can be dynamically adapted to match the situation and the event.

The exhibition hall - what visitors see

What’s behind the scenes

On the 1st floor of the Zeppelin Museum, approximately 500 monochromatic Ala inserts were installed behind the illuminated ceiling and the old fluorescent lamps were removed. Now the lighting is state of the art and offers maximum savings potential in power consumption. In addition, the LTS luminaires offer the benefit of a long service life. The result is a visually more even, extensive and brighter lighting pattern.

Even and discrete general lighting puts pictures, sculptures or historic Zeppelin fragments and artefacts, both as free-standing exhibits and exhibited in glass cabinets, at the centre of the visitors’ attention.

The creative possibilities light offers in museums and galleries are not restricted to the presentation of artwork and exhibits light also contributes to shaping the general atmosphere. LTS provides a wide range of LED lights, standardised for all possible use cases and applications. What made this assignment so special was the glass ceiling with the luminaires hidden behind it. The light shining through the ceiling is indirect which gives the room underneath a very special atmosphere. Despite this particularity, it was easy to replace the old fluorescent lamps with the latest LTS LED technology. The atmosphere in the exhibition hall is now characterised by the even and harmonious general lighting through the suspended glass ceiling.

The hallways

The hallways and transition areas are carefully curated to offer a seamless museum experience to visitors. Light guides guests from one era to the next with each exhibit telling its own story in the right light. The old fluorescent lamps have been replaced by the latest and most efficient generation of the LTS Lichtkanal. The customised setup of the LTS Lichtkanal allows to adapt to the architecture and meet all lighting, equipment and control requirements. The architectural light line is available in various basic versions. The Lichtkanal profile is the basis of the system and can be installed, mounted or suspended depending on the type.

The existing luminaires of the LTS Lichtkanal family can be easily retrofitted with LED lights at any point in time. When refurbishing the lighting, the Lichtkanal itself remains, and only the inserts are replaced. This is very easy thanks to the standard feedthrough wiring of the LED lighting inserts.

Renovation during opening hours, as it happened in the Zeppelin Museum, is no problem. The existing luminaires were completely replaced while the museum stayed open without any noticeable interruptions for visitors. The result was a customised renovation solution made easy for the museum operator.

The dream of flying
in new and funded light

All LTS lights used for renovation are eligible for funding. The Federal Grant Programme for Efficient Buildings provides funds to support energy-saving renovation projects. This means faster payback of the investment, with long-term savings and a sustainable operation of a museum. The energy savings related to the new LED lighting mean lower energy costs and positive effects for the environment. LTS, the Upper Swabian luminaire manufacturer, aims at creating high-quality lighting which is goes hand in hand with ground-breaking, long-term and sustainable architecture for present and future generations. The Zeppelin Museum also puts emphasis on sustainability and climate neutrality. The two companies share this goal making them the ideal partners working toward a future worth living.

Light renovation package

If you are also thinking about light renovation, the LTS light experts will be at your side supporting you the entire time and will help you tap the full potential of your lighting project. Standardised for all potential use cases and applications. No matter whether you want to renovate only individual light spots or the entire lighting system. Our comprehensive service includes individual advice, a profound assessment of your savings, a detailed payback calculation and all information about state grant programmes.