Clients entering the new headquarters building of the Rabobank in Utrecht, The Netherlands, are immediately captivated by the dynamic shapes, text and images blending together at the iconic lighting installation in the grand foyer. This unique installation is centrally located and called the “Espressobar”, a novel meeting point where visitors are offered a first cup of coffee. The Espressobar is the idea of renowned Dutch designer Richard Hutten who won an earlier design competition organised by the Rabobank.
VML-Technologies implemented a solution with a diffuse membrane in the shape of an inverted flared cone 3.78 m in height, with a 5 m diameter at the base increasing to a 10 m diameter at the top. The installation includes 192 vertical ribbons of Lattice LED video lighting bars positioned behind the membrane. As the gap between the LED pixels and the diffuser increases with height, so the light patterns and images become gradually more diffused towards the top, creating a special mood lighting effect within the Espressobar area.
