Lighting solutions created around the needs of civilians

The NIGHTSIGHT concept blends the latest lighting technology and high quality materials with the principle of 'Human Scale Lighting', creating lighting solutions based inexorably around the needs of people. Alongside Ben van Berkel and the designers from UNStudio in Amsterdam, Zumtobel has created a modular product family of LED lighting tools that uses one single design to solve a vast array of complex and differentiated outdoor lighting tasks.

Cities are subject to constant change, in much the same way as the movement and behaviour of their inhabitants. The potential of lighting solutions in outdoor applications now goes far beyond safety and orientation – today the social aspect of light can be carefully harnessed to create places where people gather and truly interact. The starting point for this kind of approach is always the natural night scene, the darkness from which the lighting designers shape an optimal lighting solution – layer by layer and with just as much light as is really necessary. NIGHTSIGHT is therefore able to craft light spaces that present nocturnal living and working areas in a multi-layered fashion. The correct balance between artificial light, natural light and darkness provides people with optimum light that is adapted to suit particular activities during different phases of the night – from a visual, emotional and biological perspective.

One product family, one design, countless possibilities
In order to offer architects and lighting planners maximum flexibility in terms of planning and design, the NIGHTSIGHT range features four individual formats with 2x2, 4x4, 2x8 or 4x8 LED optics, alongside a selection of different light distributions, colour temperatures and installation options. The actual product is undeniably minimalistic, helping to put the focus firmly on the light itself. Zumtobel has devised two luminaire types to enable both the uniform illumination of vertical and horizontal surfaces and the setting of targeted accents: a spotlight range with 'darkBeam' optics and an Area Light with 'softGlow' comfort optics.

The 'darkBeam' optics make the Projector version a solution for illuminating façades or emphasising architectural details. The LED light points in the luminaire head are sunk into a special honeycomb structure, which helps keep glare and lateral visibility of the light source to an absolute minimum. All attention is directed towards the illuminated objects, while the fitting itself remains discreetly in the background.

As an alternative, the Area Light luminaire with 'softGlow' optics improves the feeling of wellbeing associated with the lighting of squares, pathways and smaller streets. Targeted light guidance ensures the best possible visual comfort by softening the brightness contrast between the separate LED light points and the surrounding space. The individual optics merge into a single luminous surface. Additional vertical light elements provide optical guidance and reduce the glare sensitivity, making it easier for individuals to become accustomed to the light source as they approach the luminaire.

Yet NIGHTSIGHT is more than just a lighting instrument with an impressive lit effect and a consistent design, as Zumtobel was committed to developing an outdoor lighting system that also offers simple installation and maintenance. Plug and Play connectors make mounting NIGHTSIGHT especially easy, while the lighting heads of the individual LED modules can be positioned at almost any angle. In addition, various different colour temperatures are available. The standard versions with 3000 K and 4000 K are just two of the various possibilities, helping to make sure that everything from a historic old town to a modern skyline is always shown in exactly the right light.

Through the targeted use of light and shadow, illuminated areas and dark zones, as well as contrasting light levels, NIGHTSIGHT succeeds in enhancing the three-dimensional perception of the space, emphasising architectural details, creating recognition features and modelling spaces. As a result, people can appreciate new levels of visual comfort and wellbeing and enhanced quality of life in nocturnal outdoor spaces. The combination of specific lighting design and innovative technology, which minimises light pollution caused by stray light, simultaneously reduces the consumption of energy resources and the effect of artificial light on plants and animals. NIGHTSIGHT was recently honoured with the 2017 iFDesign Award and Red Dot Design Award.