Product Type
Application Area
Lighting Effect
Product Type
Application Area
Lighting Effect

Carrasco International Airport

About Project

The main lighting design guidelines were: show off the main architectural elements, satisfy the requirements of the Specifications and guarantee a high degree of energy efficiency (although there are no local standards relating to this). The main architectural element to be shown off was the roof, 350 metres long (150 metres interior) and almost 80 metres wide at the centre. Under the roof are the Departures Hall and the airport Terrace, from which people accompanying travellers can watch the aeroplanes take off. In terms of requirements, the specifications indicated lighting levels much higher than international standards, a feature which necessitated a search for high efficiency lamps, mainly fluorescent and discharge lamps with a very good chromatic yield as well as electronic ballasts, which would not increase energy consumption. The types of lighting were identified based on the functions performed in the various areas of the airport: departures hall, check in desks and terrace, as well as lighting for the roof; all boarding and pre-boarding areas: immigration control, boarding hall, baggage hall, customs, arrivals level; shopping areas. The lighting for the Departures Hall and the Terrace, both located under the building's huge roof, was created indirectly by reflection off the roof. For these areas the specifications required a light level of 300 lux, therefore, around 280 asymmetrical spotlights were used, not supplied by iGuzzini, with 400 W metal halide lamps, mounted on the structure supporting the roof. Considering that the internal area of the building. lit with these spotlights measures around 10,000 square metres and the power used for them is 136 kW (including leakage in the ballasts), the resulting density is 14 W per square metre which, although the lighting is all indirect, lies within acceptable energy efficiency values. The rest of the roof (areas outside the building) were lit with the same type of spotlights, although fewer of them, totalling 370 lamps for lighting the whole roof. Parts of these outer areas consists of access routes to the Departures level which are lit only by reflection from the roof and for which the average light level of 80 lux was planned and achieved. The zones for immigration control, boarding areas, baggage collection, customs and access levels were lit with continuous lines of Lineup and Sistema Hub fluorescent tubes. T8 tubes between 36 and 58 W were used, and electronic ballasts. In the check in area Lineup luminaires were used to light the wall and the area surrounding the baggage conveyor. The average light levels required in the specifications for these zones were very high (600 and 300 lux) and were achieved very efficiently with just 15 W per square metre and 7.5 W per square metre. Shopping areas were set up with a combination of down lights and two spotlights recessed in the ceiling with 35, 70 and 150 W (depending on the height) metal halide lamps. The Reflex and Frame luminaires were fitted in these areas. Green areas are picked out by Woody luminaires with halogen lamps. Outside areas for access to the departures level and the terrace on the upper level are indirectly lit with 150 W MaxiWoody luminaires with superspot optic and lenses for elliptical light distribution. The VIP lounge access area has Balisage LED luminaires. The Presidential zone is lit with Lingotto spotlights, for direct and indirect lighting, and 250 W Platea luminaires.

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  • Year:
    2015
  • Client:
    Puerta del Sur SA
  • Designer:
    Studio Ricardo Hofstadter, Joel Fregosi
  • Architectural project:
    Rafael Viñoly Architects
  • Lighting project:
    Studio Ricardo Hofstadter
    Ricardo Hofstadter
    Joel Fregosi
  • Photos:
    Francisco Nocito and iguzzini Archive
  • Photographer:
    Francisco Nocito and iguzzini Archive

Products Used:

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