Collaborate on buildings that touch you

100% goosebumps, 100% wow

MVSA is a renowned architecture and design firm with a strong focus on sustainability and well-being. "In the past forty years we have made a name for ourselves (inter)nationally with large-scale projects, such as the Central Station in Rotterdam, Westfield Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam and the Holland Casino in Venlo," says director and chief architect Wouter Thijssen. "In short: projects that stand out for their innovative, sustainable and distinctive architecture and which, thanks to the right lighting, also create a wow effect at night. In Livingprojects we found the ideal cooperation partner for this."

"Livingprojects' ambition is to create environments that surprise, excite and provide 100% goosebumps. From your crown to your toes," says founder & CEO Michael Sebregts. "We creatively translated this mission into: 'we add wow'. Our ambition is to constantly surprise our clients and their clients' clients through light, sound, image and smell. Within these areas of expertise, we enjoy working together with leading designers and architectural firms. From concept to execution and maintenance. Our ideal interlocutor is the professional dreamer. As an organization, we become very happy with high-profile designs that explore the edges of technology and design, that make buildings come to life in a special way and that make maximum impact. The projects we realize together with MVSA are, in this respect, the icing on the cake."

Special experience

The collaboration between MVSA and Livingprojects started about five years ago with project Westfield Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam, which involved the magical transformation of a dated shopping center. The main design goal was to increase the shopping experience and to captivate and engage visitors for as long as possible, Thijssen says. "Today, everything is about experience. That is also what the new 'Mall' radiates. When you walk into this mall, you find yourself in a true shopping mecca with about 200 stores and a crazy food court. We enriched the so-called Dining Plaza with curved chain panels in satin gold and brilliant brown, illustrating the movement of air in all directions, adding a sense of warmth and embracing visitors as it were. Proper lighting of the approximately 235,600 meters of chain creates exactly the right atmosphere in this regard."

To come up with the right lighting, Livingprojects translated MVSA's idea and the wishes of Westfield Mall of the Netherlands into a creative and refined lighting design. 

"Right from the concept phase, we sparred extensively on design and technical frameworks," says Sebregts. "In addition, our lighting designers examined the effect of various lighting solutions on the materials and shapes used. The result is a surprising and dynamic lighting design that subtly brings to life the atmosphere and experience of both the Dining Plaza and accompanying ceiling artwork." 

At the heart of this lighting design are 250 RGB LED spots, which can be individually and remotely controlled. Both in light color and color change. "Preset light scenes ensure a pleasant and correct ambiance at any time," Sebregts says. "In addition, various festive light scenes are pre-programmed for holidays such as King's Day, Valentine's Day, Liberation Day and Christmas. And the different seasons have not been forgotten either." 

In addition, the lighting is easily controlled by the mall itself. "The Mall can adjust the light modes at any time and entirely as it wishes, adding extra 'wow,'" says Dr. K. K., who is also the director of the mall.

Breathtaking light show along the A67

A second iconic reference from MVSA and Livingprojects is the Holland Casino in Venlo, whose lighting was even more relevant than in Leidschendam. "The casino is in a strategic location on the A67 motorway and close to the German border, so the building also serves as a welcoming gateway to the Netherlands," Thijssen says. "Soon the desire arose for a dazzling landmark of international allure. In response, we designed a sculptural building with an abstract flower shape, referring to the surrounding flower fields as well as the Floriade held on the adjacent property in 2012."

Whereas the stem of the flower provides the necessary structural stability, the facades are inspired by leaves, he says. "About 7,800 glass dishes are installed on the facades, combined with a grid of smaller metal chips. Whereas the metal chips provide a lively facade image during the day, 7,800 color-changing LEDs behind the glass dishes guarantee a breathtaking light show in the evening and night." 

But that's not all. In fact, in addition to a complete pallet of colors, the LED facade also displays video content. The entire media facade can be programmed based on, for example, seasons, theme nights or a specific target group of Holland Casino. 

"Livingprojects worked out the design for this beautifully and together with us." A key challenge here was the interplay between glass type, transparency and light output, Thijssen says. "After all, the (LED) technology itself was not to be visible. To closely coordinate technology and design, we jointly made a mock-up of 5×3 meters and with 35 dishes. When we switched on this mock-up for the first time, the special effect was immediately apparent."

'Light as a service' 

"The media facade is an important part of Holland Casino's brand image," Sebregts emphasizes. "To take this appearance to the very highest level, an enormous amount of technology has been incorporated into the facades." Responsibility for its operation lies entirely with Livingprojects. "We offered the media façade according to our 'light as a service' principle. The facade is leased by Holland Casino for ten years for a fixed amount per month including service and maintenance. This guarantees the 100% goosebumps feeling for a long time."

Characterful diamond facade 

MVSA and Livingprojects are currently working on the Heineken Hoek project. A prestigious new Grand Café Heineken Hoek is rising on the corner of Amsterdam's Leidseplein, which is intended to add extra character and new élan to the bustling square. "According to the wishes of the municipality, the new building will have a historicizing structure, with a plinth, middle building and sloping roof," Thijssen explains. "For the interior façade, pure white aluminum with subtle triangular relief patterns was chosen, which will continue harmoniously into the roof. In front of this will be a glass outer façade with triangular pieces of glass, mounted at different angles, creating a special diamond effect. With this, the facade nods to the city's rich diamond past, but with a modern twist."

In the evening, the interior surface of the glass facade is elegantly illuminated, Sebregts says. "Our lighting is 100% supportive of the architecture. The main goal is to make MVSA's design concept visible in the evening hours as well, without the lighting being disruptive. After all, the Heineken Corner will be home to a 36-room hotel, whose guests should be absolutely unaffected by the lighting. Our creative studio conducted an extensive study and performed various lighting calculations to determine the right fixture types, installation depths, light colors and beam angles for this. The extraordinary result of their efforts can be admired from the end of this year."

Ultimate goosebumps feeling

Three projects, three angles and three unique designs. Thijssen and Sebregts are enormously enthusiastic about their collaboration, which for five years has led to creative ideas, surprising designs and a high-profile end result. In other words: to an ultimate wow effect that is far from finished.