City utility tower in Duisburg

After 970 days of darkness, a popular Duisburg landmark shines again in a green light that can be seen from afar. Since December 2018, 180 facade spotlights and 256 meters of light lines from InstaLighting have been illuminating the Duisburg municipal works tower.

Originally, the 200 metre high tower served as a support for three flue gas pipes from the thermal power station II, but as this has no longer been in operation since the end of 2012, the flue gas pipes were in danger of losing stability due to increasing rust infestation. The three huge steel cylinders were therefore painstakingly dismantled between 2016 and 2018. However, the support frame was preserved as a monument and was also fitted with a new lighting installation at the same time. The challenge for lighting architect Peter Brdenk from Essen was clear even before the work began: as a monument, the tower had to shine as brightly as possible once the work was complete. However, with the three flue gas pipes, a huge reflective surface for the lighting was also dismantled. Peter Brdenk compensated for this by skilfully placing different light fittings. A combination of façade spotlights and directly radiating LED lines lends the filigree steel construction the desired plasticity in the dark.

InstaLighting supplied not only all of the lighting fixtures but also the complete controls. Around 4,500 meters of cable supply the lights with energy and control signals. Equipped with a central DMX control, the entire system can be adjusted not only in terms of brightness, but also in terms of color. The Stadtwerketurm Duisburg can also shine with changing light colors for special events. However, most of the time – according to the monument authority – the Duisburg landmark shines in the well-known bright green.