Airport Ceiling, Lighting and Daylight Systems

Since 2007, a fully automated system has given life to Terminal 3, turning it into a natural organism. This year and for the third year in a row, Changi Airport has been crowned the finest airport in the world in the "World Airport Awards".

It is eight years since Changi Airport in Singapore implemented a globally unique daylight solution, and for the last eight years that fully automated and controlled system has been operating around the clock flawlessly. The airport itself is worth a journey just to visit! One of the reasons for it special atmosphere and the award it has now garnered once again: Terminal 3, almost entirely glazed and built to a design that is unique on a global scale. With its optimum use of daylight, it creates an atmosphere in which passengers enjoy a real sense of well-being.

This was made possible by the organic-looking roof, extending over a surface area of about 9 hectares with more than 900 specially developed ceiling light wells, thousands of aluminum panels and movable shading system from durlum. The ceiling light wells use aluminum reflectors to direct daylight into the building, providing uniform illumination without dazzling visitors.

The amount of light directed into Terminal 3 is determined by moveable and perforated butterfly panels mounted above each light well. The position of these panels is guided by the angle of the sun, and by the prevailing and weather situation. Sensors on the roof obtain the information required control these butterfly panels and direct it to a central computer that runs the entire terminal. This enables daylight to enter the space without admitting any direct sunlight. In bad weather and at night, direct lighting takes over from sunlight: these lights are located on the roof below the butterfly panels. As sunlight levels diminish, this lighting is turned on, so gradually that passengers are not aware of the change. This means that artificial lighting and daylight make use of the same light deflection systems, and the heat from the radiant lamps remains outside the building. At total of about 2400 tons of CO2 have been saved.

This lighting system, planned by Bartenbach LichtLabor [Lighting Laboratory] and implemented by durlum, creates an atmosphere which visitors can enjoy, while at the same time reducing energy consumption and protecting the environment. It is therefore no surprise that Changi Airport in Singapore has been proving so popular with travelers for so many years.

Photographs: Bartenbach, durlum GmbH, David Phan

For more details about this project click here