HORISONTTI T8 is an office tower located in Kalasatama, within the REDI urban center and adjacent to the Kalasatama metro station in Helsinki. Kalasatama is one of Helsinki’s newest residential and work areas, where approximately 10,000 new jobs are expected to be created. The Horisontti tower is Finland’s first office skyscraper and, upon its completion in 2005, will be the tallest office building in the country.
The HORISONTTI T8 light canopy is the entrance lighting for the office tower and also serves as a ‘signpost’ in a location with views of the shopping center and Kalasatama metro platforms. The distinctive lighting is intended to help navigate the challenging environment and find the main entrance to the office building.
The net-like appearance of the luminaire refers to the fishing port and fishing nets that were previously located in the Kalasatama area. The light canopy itself consists of two seven-meter-long sections that follow the curved glass wall on both sides of the entrance. The bright light canopy and its sculptural organic form exude courage, which is hoped to create a positive atmosphere in the space.
The lighting of the LED light canopy, which covers 28 m², is implemented with 2100 separate and custom-made LEDs. Of these, 1400 are placed in small opal tubes for downward lighting, and 700 are directed upwards to create ambient lighting. The lighting control is implemented using DALI technology.
When designing a large luminaire, attention had to be paid to its structure and the fact that it needed to be transported to the installation site assembled but in parts. We wanted to make the installation simple and quick. Additionally, it was important for us to design the luminaire in a way that it could be maintained. We wanted all parts and different materials to be detachable, repairable, replaceable, and 100% recyclable at the end of their lifespan.
The chosen materials were steel, aluminum, and acrylic. The load-bearing frame was made of steel and finished with powder coating, the parts in contact with the LEDs were shaped from anodized aluminum, and the light tubes were made from acrylic.
The lighting was implemented with high-quality Japanese LEDs, which were precisely tailored to meet the desired features. By choosing high-quality light sources and electrical and electronic components, we aimed to reduce operating costs, minimize maintenance needs, and extend the lifespan of the luminaire and its components.
The implementation was significantly influenced by the close and seamless cooperation between responsible architects and designers. Computer models created by Helin & Co Architects were directly utilized in AICCI’s design aimed at manufacturing. If different programs communicated better with each other, transferring the designs almost directly from the architect’s computer to the machines used in manufacturing could have been even smoother.
Regarding the installation, it should be noted that the detailed drawings and calculations prepared by AICCI shortened the installation time of complex parts and saved effort and costs in a way that was unfamiliar on the construction site but was warmly received.
The REDI HORISONTTI T8 light canopy is based on a design by Helin & Co Architects, including the idea, concept, and visual appearance. AICCI was responsible for the implementation design and fabrication based on the sketches and visualisations. The suspension was carried out by AICCI in collaboration with Inlook. The electrical and lighting design for the HORISONTTI office building was done by Ramboll Finland, and the electrical installation was carried out by Amblit. The client and main contractor for the project was SRV Rakennus.
Completion: The light canopy was completed in the summer of 2024, and the building will be commissioned in the spring of 2025.
