Emotional aspects of light - chandelier VORTEXX

The company ZUMTOBEL, in collaboration with SAWAYA & MORONI, created the light sculpture VORTEXX designed by architect Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher. The sculpture represents a perfect symbiosis between organic shaping and unexpectedly dynamically modulated colored light. The futuristically designed chandelier, which is part of the ZUMTOBEL LIGHTERIORS series, is a masterpiece with the characteristic design of Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher.

The impressive shape of the fixture is based on the concept of an infinite light ribbon. Attractive curves resemble a double helix and an infinitely flowing shape – light, pulsating, and glowing. This impression is further supported by dynamic, vivid lighting. The color of the light emitted by the chandelier changes smoothly and almost imperceptibly from red to yellow to blue – a fascinating interplay of colors that creates a spatial experience and sustainably captivates attention.

This 2-meter high and 1.5-meter wide body consists of more than 60 individual parts forming a 12-meter long thread. The chandelier can be suspended from the ceiling thanks to a special attachment system. Its highly glossy, laminate-reinforced polyester surface has a perfectly fitting acrylic glass cover to ensure an even distribution of light and optimal color mixing. The perfect work with light is made possible by the latest generation of LED modules that allow for the creation of indirect lighting in various color shades. If additionally used together with Zumtobel's light control system, an endless number of different lighting scenes can be programmed and controlled.

The Italian design studio SAWAYA & MORONI introduced the VORTEXX chandelier at the Milan Furniture Fair in 2005. Two chandeliers – one white and the other black - fascinated visitors of Zaha Hadid's exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York from June to October 2006. The chandelier also thrilled art and design enthusiasts at the Art Guest Lounge at Art Basel in Miami Beach in December 2006. For the design, it received the European Lights of the Future award in 2006 and the 2007 iF Award in the lighting category.

The VORTEXX chandelier is part of the series of masterpieces by ZUMTOBEL LIGHTERIORS and is made to order. Each chandelier is individually signed and comes with a certificate. Pricing is available upon request.

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Zumtobel's lighting solutions are also used in several projects by architect Zaha Hadid.

The Bavarian car manufacturer BMW is known for its emphasis on precision, quality, and safety of its products. Zaha Hadid designed a new production line for this company that allows anyone in its vicinity to see into the production process. For the new factory, Zumtobel, in collaboration with BMW, developed a special lighting solution based on the TECTON series that meets the most demanding requirements of the car manufacturer. The fixtures installed in all production areas are characterized by high durability, efficiency, minimal failure rates, and cost-effectiveness.


One of Zaha Hadid's latest projects is a quartet of cable car stations Hungerburg and the nearby bridge over the Inn River in Innsbruck. The characteristic feature of the stations is the organic roofs floating above the concrete base. The surface of the roofs is made from sheets of thermally shaped glass with a white coating on the inside, set in a steel supporting structure. Their design is in perfect harmony with the surrounding snow-covered alpine peaks.
To emphasize the impression of the lightness of the structure at night, the roofs are indirectly illuminated by recessed fixtures with halogen lamps. These ensure good color rendition and a high color temperature. The light reflected from the surface of the roofs constitutes a significant part of the ambient lighting of the stations and provides the covered space with an attractive and open atmosphere.
For the necessary direct lighting, recessed wall fixtures and handrails with integrated LED lighting, developed in collaboration with architects from Zaha Hadid's studio, are used. There are a total of 160 meters of these handrails on the staircases.
In addition to the lighting of the stations, emphasis was placed on the night lighting of the bridge over the Inn River. Its pylons were illuminated to highlight their distinctive shape. Only the lower parts of the supporting cables are illuminated on the load-bearing structure of the bridge. The bridge deck itself is lit by simple, highly durable fixtures located in the railing. At night, it creates the impression that a band of light appears to float above the pylons, reflecting in the river. Moreover, due to the lateral lighting, moving cars look like glowing points that fly over the river and eventually disappear into the tunnel.

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