Lighting for the prayer room₂₀₂₃

SPECIAL LIGHTING FOR THE PRAYER ROOM

In Dessau, the architectural firm opted for a ceiling design featuring the Star of David as a striking central element and decided against a specially designed chandelier – not least due to the limited budget. 18 DRAFT pendant lights, arranged in a double ring formation, emphasise the distinctive ceiling design without detracting from it. The focal point in the central part of the building is the seven-branched candelabrum.

THE MENORAH

This unique piece is mounted on a wooden panelled wall as an iconic symbol next to the Torah ark. The design takes the form of a minimalist arrangement of seven lines which, thanks to their rear mounting on a separate panel, ‘float’ side by side without touching, radiating a certain lightness and immateriality. This effect is further enhanced by the backlighting of the individual arms. Each arm is held in place by two layers of translucent acrylic struts, with the rear layer being penetrated by the struts, allowing the light to emerge laterally across two planes. In the case of the lights positioned above the arms like flames, the front surface is also penetrated, so that the flame glows.

WALL AND CEILING LIGHTS IN THE PRAYER HALL

The menorah is flanked by flat, circular wall lights from the LYD series, which cast their light around the wall and, through an opaque glass panel, allow only a halo to appear at the edge of the surface, creating a spherical aura of light. In the rear section of the synagogue, where the ceiling height is lower, another model from serien.lighting, the SLICE² PI, is used. The floating effect of the luminaire is created by a small amount of light projected onto the ceiling via an opaque film.

INTEGRATED INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

Black is also the colour of the other luminaires used in the adjoining rooms. One of these is the REFLEX² series, which features a delicate frame structure. From a design perspective, the luminaires have been integrated into the air conditioning system in the ceiling in such a way that they form the end points of the individual ducts. On the side of the suspended ceiling, the CAVITY model is also used. This is a surface-mounted downlight with a simple cylindrical body that is funnel-shaped towards the light source, thus ensuring a high level of glare control. Outside, above the wide steps leading to the entrance, there is also a row of CAVITY luminaires, which are additionally fitted with a weather-resistant seal. This row provides inviting lighting for the entrance to this place of prayer and assembly.

The official opening of the newly built synagogue of the Jewish community in Dessau-Roßlau took place on 22 October 2023 in the presence of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and numerous guests of honour.

By Manfred Wolf – excerpt from an article published in LICHT 9 | 2023