Water Tower Stands Out Like A Beacon With GKD Transparent Mesh And LED Lighting
Project Name: Arctura Water Tower
Location: Östersund, Sweden
Architect: Sweco FFNS
Lighting: LJUSDESIGN
GKD Metal Fabric: Tigris
The Actura Water Tower in Sweden holds 6.8 million gallons of boiling water that is used to heat homes in the surrounding region. Interestingly, and unlike most water towers, the top of the 215-foot high structure houses a skyline restaurant, while the ground level below the tank features a ski center that is often used in international sports competitions.
In daylight the tower is grey, wrapped in an almond-shaped, energy-efficient veil of the stainless steel GKD mesh Tigris, yet utilizing sophisticated lighting system that changes with the seasons, creating bluish tones in autumn and bright red in December to create a beautiful contrast from the white snow that hangs on the steel mesh.
Lighting experts LjusDesign were engaged to design the tower’s illumination. According to Swedish lighting designer Stefan Wiktorsson of Ljusdesign AB, “the concept was to create a symbolic version of the northern lights.”
This light design, which is projected onto the metal fabric by means of LED fixtures, was inspired by Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere. One of the most spectacular events of the city’s tower is as the clock strikes 12 on New Years Eve, a firework display runs for 20 minutes, showcasing the ability of lighting design and semi-transparent mesh to create fantastical facades.
Wiktorsson states, “Arctura, with its northern lights, can be seen from 2-3 kilometres away. The island Frösön, that is situated on the great lake in front of the town of Östersund, is a great place to see the amazing effect. Arctura stands out like a beacon during the dark winter days.”