St. Jakob City Church is an open church in the heart of Zurich, providing space for religious, spiritual, cultural, sporting, and other social events. By switching to LED luminaires, the annual energy demand for the interior lighting was reduced by more than 80 percent. The energy optimisation of the existing lighting also provided an opportunity to refine the design of the church’s already atmospheric illumination. A broad layer of light with subtle dynamics now rests on the glossy wooden surfaces. We achieved this modulation through the precise aiming of luminaires that share a uniform external form but are fitted with different optics. The window arches are traced with light in order to frame the space as a whole. Depending on the architectural conditions, the light gradients have either been left visible or softly blurred. New, elegantly designed luminaires bring the large side aisle to life and open the space invitingly across its full width.
