Eternal Light

“Eternity”- Ruairí O’Brien competition entry for the Frechen Central Memorial

Ruairí O’Brien’s work of art “Eternity”, with its striking and at the same time simple elements in a material and metaphorical sense, forms a dignified space for remembering all victims of the National Socialist tyranny. The two vertical masts and the line of light floating horizontally between them mark and house the real Fre¬chen green space; At the same time, through the immaterial spaces in between, they inspire an unlimited mental wandering between times, spaces and events. A line crosses the sky and illuminates the ground below. At the same time, reference is made to the spatial and temporal significance of the topic. The meta-level created in this way, which can be perceived haptically / visually / with the senses, forms an expansion space and yet an ensemble with the information board designed for concrete, authoritative verbal information about the history.
“Simplicity gives complexity” – Simplicity allows and harbors great complexity here.
The work of art brings public attention to the central memorial site. It marks this central square as a central memorial day and night and symbolically refers to the places where the events took place. The work encourages you to linger, to pause, and offers flexible space for mediation work by institutions, groups and individual actors.
The line of light (bridge) that invites you to look, think and remember, it remains, it is always there.
The work of art has a noticeable day and night effect. Depending on the viewer’s location, depending on the time of year and day, depending on the weather, lighting conditions, environment and individual visitor’s condition, it develops its effect – sometimes more delicate, sometimes more intense, always with a long-distance and close-up effect.
Anyone who approaches the work of art opens up different perspectives and perceptions. Viewers are reflected in the masts, their gaze connecting their own self with the surroundings and the subject matter. The environment is reflected in it, light is reflected and directed.

German Embassy Dublin

Lighting concept for the design for the outdoor areas of the German Embassy in Ireland

We are excited to post our final design proposal for the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ireland
In this project, architecture, light and spatial art complement each other to provide the client with a solution to repair and enhance the courtyard areas of the German embassy in Dublin.
After successive and ongoing renovations of the embassy’s unique architecture with its six sided cluster concept, the courtyard areas required an architectural intervention to enhance the garden and courtyard areas for the staff to use on an everyday basis but also for formal and informal events.
The chosen design solution provides the embassy with a sculptural modular system that allows daylight interaction with dynamic reflective glass and stainless steel elements, provides seating and artificial lighting in different scenarios at night.
The nighttime scenarios can be controlled to create quiet peaceful scenes or spectacular light and sound immersive spatial experiences for the guests.

Client: Federal Office of Foreign Affairs Germany

Illumination of the main avenue of the university hospital

The lighting concept for the main avenue developed by Ruairí O’Brien is the first part of the associated development of the lighting master plan for the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital in Dresden. The new lighting creates a uniform and contemporary appearance with high-quality light that takes into account the individual requirements of the individual sections of the approximately 500m long main avenue of the clinic and the immediately adjacent areas. In conjunction with the redesign of the listed avenue, an attractive and forward-looking appearance is created.

Dresden University Hospital

As part of the renewal of the electrical systems, we planned an LED light line in the floor for the corridor areas of a hospital building in Dresden University Hospital, which is being installed as an additional, supplementary element of the visual safety guidance system. With the help of the floor-level guidance markings, orientation and guidance to the exits is still possible despite smoke, which could make it difficult to recognise the signs and lights close to the ceiling. This lighting makes it easier to leave the building more quickly in the event of danger.
For future use as part of the optical safety guidance system in the University Hospital in Dresden, experience can be gained in the installation, technical realisation and operation of lighting in the floor area.
The planning also included the development of a lighting and colour concept for the building.

Now-and-here

Restaurant and guesthouse at Postplatz Dresden

The use planned here is a special inspiration for the creation of architecture. Creating a building for a real day and night cycle is tantamount to paying homage to itself. A building in which a bistro with a lively morning café service through to nightlife celebrates everyday life, which can benefit from the street flair of a sunny piazza and has the special magic of a sophisticated evening restaurant, possibly world-class, is a building that captures the rhythms of life and “speaks” with the sun and moon. Food and the preparation and transformation of food with simple ingredients into unforgettable moments of pleasure have parallels with high-quality architecture, which is also created with imagination and attention to detail.

The 360-degree concept also makes it possible to present all neighbouring buildings and squares at eye level – facing the Schauspielhaus, facing the piazza on the south side or with the façade side facing the Zwinger (with the large, centrally positioned eye and the roof terrace with gallery) or with the entrance facing Postplatz. The building presents itself to the outside world with a generous gesture of openness and a friendly, welcoming invitation.