Commissioned by and working closely with Vastint Netherlands, Spot On has created an integral lighting design for Ruby Gardens, a multifunctional high-rise project in the Amstel III area of Amsterdam. Ruby Gardens consists of an office and residential tower on a natural stone plinth with a roof garden. A park-like communal garden will be created next to the building.
Landmark
Ruby Gardens is set to become a new landmark in the Amsterdam South-East borough. To emphasize this, the top floor of the office tower will get a soft and warm glow at night, like a subtle beacon in the surroundings. The lighting is indirect: not the façade itself but the partition wall behind it will be evenly illuminated, using wall wash fixtures.
Illuminated plinth
The building’s natural stone plinth provides a soft, warm glow throughout. This is done with out-of-sight spotlights, hidden behind the supporting columns and directed towards the canopy. An extra light accent is added to the entrances.
The apartment building gets a slightly different lighting treatment due to the deviating subdivision of the façade and in order to prevent light nuisance in the flats. Wide-beam downlights with wall wash optics illuminate the gallery and highlight the columns on the ground floor. An additional light accent is added to the entrances.
Landscape lighting
The terraced topography in the garden is enhanced at night with a subtle mix of light and darkness. Across the site, lighting is integrated into landscape elements. This enhances the legibility of the landscape.
Pole-top lighting in the square-like sections provides face recognition and reduced contrast, making these spaces feel safe and be pleasant meeting places even at night.
Most of the lighting is downward-facing or low-level. This gives an intimate atmosphere and reveals low planting. The gardens are a place where people can meet and discover.
Status: work in progress.
Client: Vastint Netherlands, Architect: de Architekten Cie., Landscape architect: Donker Design