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ANDRES + PARTNER, Hamburg
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
Schwerin, Germany
Light that becomes an exhibit in its own right
Two extraordinary custom-designed light fixtures were created for the foyers on the ground and first floors of the Schwerin State Museum. Three-dimensionally curved lines of light, up to eight metres long, wind freely through the space, transforming the lighting itself into a sculptural design element.
The pendant luminaires, with their satin-finish bronze surface, combine an expressive design with predominantly indirect light. Tunable White and DALI control allow for precise adaptation to the architecture, intended use and various lighting scenarios.
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ANDRES + PARTNER, Hamburg
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
‘Medusa’ – Light in Motion
Internally, the special lamp was quickly nicknamed ‘Medusa’. Its curved arms seem to move across the room and change their appearance depending on the angle from which they are viewed.
What appears, from a distance, to be a simple, almost freehand drawing is in fact based on complex three-dimensional geometry. Several curved and twisted profiles combine to form a light installation that has no distinct front or back.
Two levels, a shared design language
Distinct designs were developed for the two foyer levels. On the ground floor, the pendant light, which is approximately 7.70 metres long, consists of two curved tubular elements. On the upper floor, three elements form a composition approximately eight metres long.
Both special light installations are based on the same design concept, yet each responds individually to its specific spatial context. Suspended from eight steel cables each, these light installations – which are up to 1.25 metres high – float freely in the foyer.
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
Complex geometry, precision-manufactured
The three-dimensional shape is created using round aluminium tubes with a diameter of just 40 millimetres. The diffuser is integrated directly into the slender profiles. Specially manufactured end pieces made from 3D-printed metal ensure that the sophisticated geometry is consistently carried through to the very last detail.
The control gear was housed outside the luminaires, in the false ceiling. This ensures that the visible structure remains particularly uncluttered, allowing the sculptural effect of the freely-routing light lines to take centre stage.
The satin-finished bronze surface lends the lights a warm, high-quality appearance and creates a deliberate contrast to the museum’s historic architecture.
Indirect lighting, flexibly controllable
The predominantly indirect light output emphasises the spatial effect of the bespoke luminaires without competing with the artworks on display. Tunable White allows the light colour to be adjusted continuously between 2,700 and 6,500 Kelvin.
With a colour rendering index (CRI) of >90 and DALI control, a wide range of lighting ambiances can be precisely created – from warm, atmospheric light to bright, energising lighting.
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
A contemporary light installation for a historic site
The Schwerin State Museum, which opened in 1882, has undergone extensive modernisation and will reopen in October 2025. The new foyer lighting adds a contemporary touch to the restored rooms: striking enough to be perceived as a feature in its own right, yet understated enough to allow the architecture and art to take centre stage.
In this way, a functional pendant light becomes a distinctive feature of the museum.
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Ulrich Sattler
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State Museum
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Enquire about a custom lighting projectAuthor: Alexander Strifler
