Vienna State Opera

Architects August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll

Light design and planning podpod design

Project management Art for Art Theaterservice GmbH

Client Wiener Staatsoper GmbH, Bundestheater-Holding GmbH

The new façade illumination of the Vienna State Opera was solemnly inaugurated in September 2006. The lighting concept was developed by podpod design.

podpod design would like to thank everybody involved for their personal effort in making the design of the new façade illumination a success! In particular, our thanks go to Mr. A. Schmidl, Mr. L. Leisser, Ms. M. Höld, Dr. G. Springer, State Opera Director Joan Holender, Ms. K. Sedivy, Dr. B. Maldoner, Mr. L. Targetti and the Elektro Leonbacher company.

Photo © www.digitalimage.at

SKIN LIGHTING

For the first time ever, the richly detailed stone façade is lit from all sides. The uniquely soft light distribution of the FEBO luminaires by Targetti with integrated Fresnel optics models the structure through light, making the building seem delicate despite its hefty mass.

The Pegasus horses and Muses are singled out with additional spotlights.

The roofscape is evenly lit with linear fixtures and, in addition, fewer spotlights with high-efficiency optics and filters favouring light spread.

Directing the light towards the façade moreover prevents light immission into the nocturnal sky.

Photo © www.digitalimage.at

Lighting fixtures

Integrated unobtrusively into the overall façade outlook, the lighting fixtures are not perceived as irritating either by day or night.

The cables run along the cornices; only a minimum of attachment points was used to go easy on the historic texture of the building.

The colour of the fixtures, too, was agreed with the Federal Office for the Care of Monuments.

Photo © podpod design

Arcades

After consultation with the Federal Office for the Care of Monuments, the historical pendant luminaires in the arcades remained unchanged on the outside but were completed refurbished on the inside.

By using two different illuminants, the ceiling of the cupolas was rendered much brighter while directing brilliant light downwards at opera-goers.

Photo © www.digitalimage.at

Technical data

471 light spots

Connected power 38kW (2W/m²)

Although the surface illuminated by the new lighting system is by 28.6% larger than before, the use of state-of-the-art technologies made it possible to cut down on energy consumption by 23% as compared to the old concept.

Plan © podpod design