House Y1, France

A transparent residence that shines far into the distance and commands a fantastic view of extinct volcanic cones has been built in the Massif Central in France. Known as Y1 for short, the building is a low-energy home that has been carefully integrated into a former sand quarry by the Stuttgart architect Werner Sobek. The lighting design features Nimbus's reduced LED luminaires, for example from the Modul Q 36 range, on the transparent upper floor. These are able to fulfil the wish of both the architect and the client for a combination of high technical quality and excellent design quality. As on the ground floor, the interior of the upper floor has been kept in a toneless shade of matt white. Here too, the colour effect is created exclusively by the colours of the surrounding nature. The light had to be functional, state-of-the-art and should not feature any decorative elements. Sobek suggested Modul Q 36 for consistent lighting of the entire house. The luminaires exude a striking presence especially in twilight and in darkness: installed in accurate rows, they mark a glowing, distinct structure that follows a strict rhythm. When the luminaires are switched off, they almost entirely melt in with the surrounding architecture. The Nimbus Whisky Soda LED bollard was chosen for the exterior lighting.