The German Lighting Design Prize 2018 was awarded in Cologne on May 17, 2018. With the Archiepiscopal Vocational College in Cologne, a project that was equipped with linear lighting solutions from Insta, among other things, is one of the prizewinners.

The core of the award-winning design of the Archiepiscopal Vocational College that opened in summer 2016 is an organically shaped atrium that should act as the heart of the building, traffic area, meeting place, auditorium and light space.
Here the flanking gallery walls have been faded in using continuous, concealed striped light profiles. In this way, the room can be experienced in all its complexity from all viewing directions.
Organic shaped recesses in the beams of the atrium galleries are filled with so-called "seals". These wooden bodies with round cut-outs accommodate adjustable track-mounted spotlights. They brighten the base of the atrium and the sculptural stairs glare-free and rich in contrast. Open learning zones form partially private niches in the galleries of the atrium. Some of these are equipped with elaborately designed multifunctional furniture that is skilfully surrounded by recessed ceiling luminaires.
The classrooms are illuminated with continuous, slim light lines. These follow the polygonal façade contours in three tracks and thus illuminate the classrooms in a uniform and at the same time glare-free manner. The track of light follows all changes of direction with mitres illuminated right into the corners. Thus, the light lines can also be viewed from the exterior as spatially staggered outlines. The café on the ground floor presents itself with its staggered wooden ceiling panels that are optically separated from each other by LED light. Functional room lighting is provided by recessed directional spotlights whose design compensates for the inclination of the ceiling while at the same time providing focused, brilliant light on the café tables.
In the library, the shelf lighting planned by the Keggenhoff interior design company is provided entirely from the furnishings. The reading places are only illuminated from downlights in a Heradesign ceiling in the edge area along the generous façade glazing.
The emergency staircases are illuminated from LED light strips in exposed concrete recesses. On the underside of the stairs, the light lines form an uninterrupted light graphic and highly functional element. The light lines are largely hidden along the end walls of the platforms and cover designed walls with streak light.
The light masts of the exterior lighting are at an appropriate distance from the façade. Seats contain sidelights for the paths near the façade and selected trees are illuminated glare-free from the floor.

With LEDLUX LS linear, Insta supplied the modular LED line system using which all light lines in the atrium, learning zones and emergency staircases have been realised. Thanks to their compact design and modularly configurable length, LEDLUX lighting inserts fit perfectly into the existing architecture and enable uninterrupted lines.

Archiepiscopal Vocational College in Cologne
Architecture 3pass, Köln / Interior Design Bibliothek, Lernzonen und Caféteria: KEGGENHOFF | Partner, Arnsberg / Light planner: Licht Kunst Licht, Bonn | photo: Constantin Meyer Fotographie