From the series “Lighting, Fixtures — Trends 2026”
The glass library of the Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies at the University of Bamberg has been equipped with a new lighting solution from Lichtwerk, controlled based on user presence and the availability of daylight. The result is a modern and forward-looking lighting system that uniquely highlights the building’s exceptional architecture.
The library of Otto and Friedrich University in Bamberg comprises six locations, each specializing in specific fields. In 2004, a building with large glass facades was constructed to house Faculty Library No. 4, dedicated to linguistics and literary studies. In 2017, the facility was expanded. Even during the design phase, the guiding principle was to create optimal conditions for learning and to equip the space in a way that meets the requirements of a modern, interactive educational environment. Since then, however, lighting technology has advanced significantly, and issues such as energy consumption, maintenance, and operating costs have also become increasingly important. To adapt the facility to contemporary operational requirements and ensure its efficient operation, the State Building Authority in Bamberg—which was responsible for the modernization—decided to carry out a comprehensive optimization of the lighting system. Experts from Lichtwerk were engaged to develop and implement the project.
Modern lighting plays a key role in libraries —it influences users’ concentration, productivity, and comfort. The existing installation no longer met expectations in terms of functionality, user-friendliness, and aesthetics. Above all, however, maintenance and operating costs for the facility—which is open to users 24 hours a day in some areas—have risen sharply in recent years. This resulted in an increasing workload and rising maintenance costs. In collaboration with Lichtwerk, a lighting concept was developed that complements the building’s architecture while being individually tailored to the character of each zone and its specific requirements.
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Optimal Lighting for the Book Collection
One of the most important elements of the modernization was improving the lighting of the numerous book shelves. Instead of the fluorescent lights previously used, the decision was made to install new, precisely directed LED lighting, which helps users navigate the space and find the titles they’re looking for more quickly. The Lichtwerk Klir luminaire perfectly meets these requirements. Its slender design has a cross-section measuring just 40 × 43 mm. The fixture is partially encased in acrylic glass and suspended from translucent individual cables, which also supply power to the LEDs. This gives it an exceptionally light appearance—almost as if it were floating in the air—and allows it to blend subtly into the interior design. The individual modules are positioned centrally between the bookshelves, as well as above workstations and in reading areas, elegantly and stylishly highlighting the character of the interior.
A total of 254 “Klir” luminaires with lengths of 1,200, 1,700, and 2,200 mm were installed. Thanks to the wide and deep light distribution in the direct zone, neutral-white light with a color temperature of 4000 K—characterized by a high color rendering index (CRI ≥ 90)— is directed without glare all the way to the bottom edge of the shelf fronts. This ensures optimal visibility of the books across the entire surface of the shelves, from both sides, without the formation of shadows.
In the indirect lighting zone , the Klir fixture, thanks to the use of a convex lens, provides a very wide light distribution. Soft, diffused light is directed toward the ceilings, walls, and columns, visually enlarging the space. The result is uniform lighting that makes the entire interior pleasant and inviting.
Building automation makes using the space simple, flexible, and comfortable. The Klir lighting is controlled independently for each row of shelving using motion sensors located at its beginning and end. Thanks to DALI control, which utilizes information about daylight levels and user presence, any desired level of ambient lighting can be set in addition to the main lighting. This ensures an appropriate level of safety for users at all times and facilitates orientation within the space.
© Regiolux
Low-maintenance stairwell lighting
Another issue was the existing lighting system, which consisted of pendant fixtures mounted directly above the stairwell. Access to them was possible only with the use of scaffolding, which in practice proved to be very cumbersome and costly. One of the goals of the modernization was therefore also to redesign the stairwell lighting. The new solution was designed to be easily accessible and, as a result, convenient for maintenance and servicing.
Minimalist clip-TT LED luminaires from Lichtwerk were used. In the special clip-TT version, the fixtures were mounted on a power rail running along the edge of the concrete ceiling. The system combines power supply and fixture mounting functions, allowing the fixtures to be flexibly positioned along the rail, moved, and adjusted to various angles. As a result, installation was quick and hassle-free.
Thanks to its elongated design, the clip luminaire directs the appropriate amount of light onto the stairs, almost completely eliminating glare. The need for scaffolding during maintenance work and any future changes to the installation is now a thing of the past.
Thanks to direct communication between the sensors and the energy-efficient LED fixtures, the Faculty Library No. 4 at the University of Bamberg was able to implement a smart lighting retrofit. In addition to providing excellent lighting conditions, the solution has, above all, reduced energy consumption by over 40% and significantly cut CO₂ emissions. The lighting control system also collects extensive data that can be used for further analysis and optimization.
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