Why the weird shape?
There are very pragmatic reasons for this initially curious-looking building designed by Foster & Partners: the building avoids direct light from the south, while its giant slanted glass front captures diffused light from the north. Directly behind this vitreous facade lies the heart of the building, the chamber of the city council, above which a spiral ramp winds to lofty heights.

Who designed the lighting?
Claude Engle with help by Erco Lighting.

What's the lighting scheme?
Affixed to the spiral structure are Erco Stella spotlights which direct accent lighting into the city chamber. At night the spiral ramp, yellow core wall, perimeter linear areas and some of the internal exhibition areas are illuminated, making the building glow, displaying its unique character. The curved walls in the corridors are given added form by the intersecting beams from the downlights. Washlights bring out the true brilliance of the coloured wall sections. Outside tension is created by the marked contrast between the concentrated circles of light from the narrow-beam downlights in the cantilevered roof and the wallwashers' perfectly even illumination of the wall surface.

www.erco.com