LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY | 29
Niko ‘This was supposed to be a small project,’ says Didier Legrand, the engineer who supervised the complete automation of this house in Belgium. However, the property is the home of Patrick Van Steelandt, commercial director of technology company Niko, and it soon became a showcase for the company’s expertise, featuring integrated and intuitive lighting. Each morning, the lights in Van Steelandt’s bedroom gradually brighten automatically, while dimmed LED modules hidden in the corridor walls light the walk to the bathroom. The kitchen uses Niko’s LED light strips with programmed colour schemes that change according to time of day. ‘Each tone is an analysis of Van Steelandt’s living habits translated in a technical way,’ explains Legrand. The LED strips can be any length and hidden in the smallest spaces beneath work surfaces and cupboards. Niko’s Mysterious range picked up a Red Dot design award last year and is used throughout the project, from the camouflaged switches in the dining room to the subtly illuminated steps on the staircase. Designed to be inobtrusive and adaptable, these invisible light fixtures can be painted and wallpapered or built into wooden or marble worktops. They are completely flush to the surface and have a discreet LED backing.
Words JENNY BREWER
www.nikouk.com
www.idfxmagazine.com | February 2010