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Original sketches from Reflexion lighting design practice, a process and passion that founder Thomas Mika is keen to instill in his growing team of creatives - experimenting with different ideas through sketching at the initial design stage.
revise the lighting concept and optimally adapt to the interior of the Romanesque Church. The round shape of the direct / indirect luminaires connect harmoniously into the overall picture of the church. Through this project, religious, historical architecture and the latest lighting technology have been brought together and let the church shine in a new light. Mika tells mondo*arc that when entering a project, there are many aspects that have to be taken into consideration: “If we’re working for an institutional client we have to look at the philosophy of the company and the job or the product itself. There are certain standards that come with certain businesses. Also, if you’re looking at a specific industry with set needs it is about understanding this and treating the project accordingly. How can you address them through your own perspective to give them the right light? Who is going to be using the space? What kind of people are going to be there? What are their backgrounds and their expectations of the architecture? It is about digging deep and asking these fundamental questions.” One of the lighting practice’s most notable
exterior projects is the Harbour of Lachen, Lake Zurich. The town of Lachen is 20 minutes outside of Zurich and reopened its harbour area in 2007. Reflexion was responsible for illuminating the dock and surrounding area in order to encourage the people of Lachen to dwell. Moving forward, as a leader in the Swiss market, for the team at Reflexion it will be a case of maintaining its position while continuing to evolve as lighting designers working with new technologies, new markets and new demands from the world around them. “The technical background of lighting has changed a lot,” concludes Mika. “Take the incandescent lamp, we had more than 100 years to develop chandeliers and so on, that work well with the lamp, however industry today has not yet learned how to handle a traditional function - such as providing light - with a new technology using existing design approaches. We have to work on a good combination between LED and lighting fixtures and there is still some work to be done. Lighting is a phenomenon that is very difficult to control.” www.reflexion.ch
HIGHLIGHTS Projects that you’d like to change: All the projects that didn’t meet the expectations - this happens when the communication isn’t good enough. Projects you admire: In general, projects with poetic, soft and simple light intervention. Projects you dislike: In general projects with harsh, extroverted light intervention and installations that are far too intense. Lighting hero: Beside the real artists like Turrell, Eliasson and others, I see so many surprisingly beautiful concepts and installations from friends and colleagues which inspire me - these are my heros. Notable projects: All the big and small scale projects that have been successfully realised thanks to our team of highly skilled employees and where we can say altogether mission accomplished. Most memorable project: It is more about the way through the projects and the interaction and discussion about space and light with the architects - that has always been the memorable part of the projects for me - this is very much linked to the architect as person, partner opponent and friend.