Korhan Şişman, IALD

MACFit is a health club concept that is designed for ‘everybody’ located in most of the cities of Turkey. The group aims to provide a great range of high-quality facilities in a fun and exciting environment and all at greatest value possible. We were commissioned in 2014 and managed to design more than 70 projects. We wanted lighting design to embrace the characteristics of the brand where transforming lighting identity into visitor experience. According to the quick project design processes and low budget requirements, we have created a lighting template to follow a way for a quick response while considering the fundamental lighting quality needs.

Lighting design of the project has been honoured with International IES Merit Awards 2017 by IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) (The IES Illumination Awards program recognizes individuals for professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design based on the individual merit of each entry. Judges are selected from a broad professional spectrum representing knowledge of lighting and design excellence. The judging system is entirely based on how well the lighting design meets the program criteria. The Illumination Awards program is not a competition. 2017 marks the 44th anniversary of the IES lighting awards program.) About the project: This place is a multipurpose hall which is repurposed again and again several times since it was constructed. The building responds all the functions because of its architectural construction like a warehouse. Even though it was thought to be used as a shopping mall, in the beginning, it started to change when the hypermarket was turned into a fitness centre. Then the second floor where the cafe and cinema exist was replaced and repurposed as offices. It is one of the most striking examples of how a place which has almost no columns and extremely wide can be turned into an open office area. This work also can be seen as an exploration which shows what happens when interior architecture brings together all the functions in offices by using light as a material. The building consists of technical, private and open offices, exhibition areas, greeting, reception and cocktail area, basketball court and terraces. The biggest goal of the lighting design is to create a comfortable and combined environment which includes all those different functions with an optimum ergonomic solution. It was also very important to achieve these expectations with the right amount of time and budget to spend. Lighting and interior design’s perfect match let a music band use this office as a performance area which is set for a music video clip.

Planlux team participated in the development of the architectural lighting design concept of the new Kahve Dünyası Veliefendi Fabrika project. Architectural design by Toner Architects. About the project: A new branch of one of the most well-known coffee shop chain in Turkey was opened in 2016 with a new ‘’factory’’ concept. In this new branch, you may also have a chance to learn the process until you reach a cup of coffee. Just like the combination of aroma and the taste of coffee, factory, and social areas are balanced as one place. Lighting design concept is improved by this combination idea. The building consists of three main parts; cafe, workshop/atelier, and production. The structure is made of high steel columns which provide an industrial interior look. The first thing considered in the lighting design of the cafe is to use its industrial architectural elements efficiently. Symmetric sculpturesque columns and the connection of the steel profile applications between them are used for the illumination details. Indirect light sources applied to these junction areas. To emphasize the space clearly, walls are washed by linear lights. Lighting equipment is invisibly integrated into space by considering the architectural design decisions. Track lights are used within cable trays to correspond to the dispersed furniture placements. The lighting level of the high ceiling is improved with indirect lights which again attached to this metal cable tray system. In the production part, luminaires and lamps over the tables are specifically chosen by the architects, and for the production and sitting areas, we aimed to provide different lighting levels in these different parts. On the facade, vertical ‘H’ profiles are emphasized with the spotlights placed inside of the inner section of H profiles to support the industrial concept on the facade better. With a lighting design that emphasizes the architectural elements of the place and which unifies the cafe, production and workshop parts, customers will experience drinking coffee and eat chocolate in a pure and explicit space. Lighting design of the project has been honoured with International IES Merit Awards 2017 by IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) (The IES Illumination Awards program recognizes individuals for professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design based on the individual merit of each entry. Judges are selected from a broad professional spectrum representing knowledge of lighting and design excellence. The judging system is entirely based on how well the lighting design meets the program criteria. The Illumination Awards program is not a competition. 2017 marks the 44th anniversary of the IES lighting awards program.)

Planlux participated to the development of the architectural lighting design scheme of Garanti Technology Campus by Garanti Bank designed by Era Architects. The conceptual lighting design was developed by one of the leading lighting design companies Speirs & Major. General concepts in energy efficiency, structure, and engineering are supported by Werner Sobek. Interior design by Midek/ERA. Planlux created a synthesis for the lighting design and assisted the development of the scheme and detailing from 2011-2018 Garanti Bank BBVA Technology Campus is the 2019 A+ Awards Winner of Popular Choice in the Commercial – Office – Mid Rise (5-15 Floors) category.

Planlux participated to the development of the architectural lighting design scheme of Galataport Istanbul Cruise Terminal by Doğus Group and Bilgili designed by Autoban. Lighting design of the project has been honoured with International IES Merit Awards 2022 by IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) (The IES Illumination Awards program recognizes individuals for professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design based on the individual merit of each entry. Judges are selected from a broad professional spectrum representing knowledge of lighting and design excellence. The judging system is entirely based on how well the lighting design meets the program criteria. The Illumination Awards program is not a competition. 2022 marks the 49th anniversary of the IES lighting awards program.)