The world’s first façade featuring light transmitting concrete, LUCEM, has been used on the RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
The building was designed by German firm Carpus & Partner and features 136 panels which work like a large screen and allow individual light scenarios. The façade can be controlled via an iPhone App which uses a DMX web based control system and allows the building owner to be able to start and change the light from any location.
The LUCEM panels can be used as a facade-panel or an inside wall, a flooring system or wall cladding, a washroom basin, furniture or a decorative element.
The product has a fine-meshed structure consisting of light transmitting fibres which gives the impression of a lightweight structure and if the fibres with different diameters are used in irregular distances in between each other, the single light points appear brighter.
It can also diffuse natural light and sun light provides the full spectrum of colours shining through the LUCEM panels. Artificial light sources can be used depending upon the application for single colours.
Naomi Wilcock wrote about the use of the material on World Architecture News and described how the 'the technology controlling the lights opens up new boundaries for design and architecture as the light panels are made with red, green and blue chips which control more than 16 million colours'.
All images courtesy of LUCEM
