Alte Oper Lanterns

RESEARCH BACKGROUNDA collaborative team of engineers, material scientists and architects from RMIT came together to create lanterns for the pergola in the forecourt of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, as part of the 2010 Luminale exhibition. The installation used improved phosphorescent long-afterglow materials to produce the glowing lanterns. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONInstead of the lantern consisting of a cover and a separate internal light source, the structures themselves were the light source. The researchers developed longer-lasting phosphorescent blue and green pigments that were able to provide illumination for prolonged periods. These new pigments differ from other glow materials in that they are produced in nano-sized particles, which allow them to be incorporated into coatings and fibres. Such bio-inspired materials provide organically-lit structures and building surfaces able to passively enhance the nightly amenity of public spaces, from aesthetic, safety and sustainability standpoints. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCEThe Frankfurt Luminale is the leading international exhibition displaying the most recent developments in lighting technology. In 2010, the Lighting Culture Biennale, which accompanies the Light + Building trade fair, attracted 140,000 visitors, from manufacturers and engineers to designers and artists.